Independent parliamentarian Mosese Bulitavu has praised the Coalition Government’s allocation of $27.4 million for a Merit-Based Higher Education – Level 7 Scheme. Speaking in Parliament recently, he noted that this initiative will provide 700 awards and is a significant improvement over the previous administration’s offerings.
Bulitavu highlighted that from these awards, 100 will be specifically reserved for Year 13 students from rural and maritime areas, acknowledging the importance of this allocation. He pointed out that under the previous government, many students from these regions were disadvantaged due to high cut-off marks for awards, leaving them without opportunities.
He expressed gratitude for the inclusion of these 100 awards aimed at supporting students from rural and maritime backgrounds, emphasizing the disparities in educational standards between urban and rural secondary schools.
Furthermore, Bulitavu commended the Coalition Government for earmarking $1 million for the Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Service (TSLS) to support an apprenticeship scheme. He noted that under this initiative, 50 percent of tuition fees would be covered, which he believes will incentivize employers to hire apprentices and help alleviate costs by providing wage support.