The Minister of Finance, Professor Biman Prasad, emphasized the importance of collaboration with various stakeholders to bridge the gap between education and employment. Speaking at the 50th anniversary celebration of Waidina College in Naitasiri on Saturday, he highlighted the government’s commitment to this issue through a substantial funding of $150 million for the Tertiary Scholarship and Loans Scheme (TSLS), aimed at supporting around 21,000 students.
Professor Prasad noted that by teaming up with key education providers, scholarships have been made available for 300 students to participate in industry-based training, leading to a Certificate or Diploma in collaboration with companies like Energy Fiji Ltd and Telecom. He expressed optimism that these opportunities would significantly benefit the students, many of whom may find employment with the organizations that trained them after completing their programs.
He concluded by stating that improving educational standards involves creating opportunities for all students, not only those who excel academically.