Solomon Islanders can expect to pay less to obtain tertiary education in the coming years, as a result of current initiatives to establish three university campuses in Solomon Islands.

The University of the South Pacific has already moved to establish a campus near the Solomon Islands College of Higher Education and the SDA church is also moving to establish a campus near Betikama Adventist, east of Honiara, a campus of the Pacific Adventist University in Port Moresby, PNG.

The Church of Melanesia is now following suit, announcing that it will also establish a third university campus at the Ngalimbiu area, east Guadalcanal, by relocating the current Bishop Patterson Theological College and expanding it into a university.

The Tertiary Institution Project Manager Mr Philip Kapini said that the project is a huge undertaking by the Church. "This project will be carried out in stages and like all projects, funds to implement it will have to be found and the committee or management for that matter will be tasked to source funds from abroad and locally."

"My immediate task is to liaise with the Government through the Parliamentary Secretary for Higher Education and Training to discuss the project and get further information that would assist in the establishment of the university. In order to realize these plans, the Church will continue to seek the active involvement of the Government and other organizations", said Mr Kapini.

Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Secretary for Tertiary Education Clement Kengava said that the Government is aware of the plan for the establishment of the university, but the actual process of talking has not yet been conducted. But to improve and establish new universities was inline with Government policy, and the Government fully supports their intention, he said.