Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad, has announced the successful distribution of the Back-to-School Support payments for the 2025 academic year, which have been processed ahead of the initially scheduled date of January 15, 2025. This initiative was expedited to provide families with valuable additional time—approximately two and a half weeks—to prepare for the new school year starting on January 27, 2025.

A total of 208,673 applications were received for this assistance program, with 200,176 qualifying applications successfully processed, resulting in a significant disbursement totaling $40.4 million. However, 8,313 applications are currently on hold as they await the Year-12 exam results, which are necessary for students to officially enroll in Year 13.

The financial support of $200 per child is designed to ease the burden of essential school-related expenses such as uniforms, school bags, shoes, and stationery. This assistance is especially aimed at families with household incomes below $50,000. Parents and guardians can access their funds conveniently through mobile platforms such as MPAiSA and MyCASH, or by visiting Post Fiji outlets, ensuring that even those in remote maritime areas can collect their funds by presenting the child’s student ID as proof.

This Back-to-School Support initiative illustrates the Coalition Government’s commitment to education and acknowledges the financial challenges that many families face during the back-to-school season. It has historically benefited around 200,000 students each year and represents a significant government investment of approximately $130 million in educational assistance annually.

The prompt rollout of this financial aid not only provides critical assistance to families but also reflects the government’s dedication to promoting educational readiness within the community. This timely support is a hopeful sign, enabling families to effectively prepare their children for the academic year ahead. Moreover, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education express gratitude to school heads, teachers, and parents for their ongoing support throughout the application process, reinforcing the importance of community collaboration in achieving educational success.