Watesoni Nata Jr, a businessman from Suva and chairman of the MSME Council at the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEF), has emphasized the urgent need for educational reforms to address the skills shortage in Fiji. During the recent Pacific Polytech panel discussions on skills shortages held in Suva, Mr. Nata pointed out that micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) employ around 60 percent of the country’s workforce and play a crucial role in its GDP. However, he noted that skill mismatches are severely affecting these enterprises.
Mr. Nata criticized the Ministry of Education for its slow pace in implementing reforms, stating that it has not effectively addressed the skills gap impacting MSMEs. He underscored the importance of recognizing the existing skills challenges, which he said existed even before the labor migration schemes and prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have been discussing education sector reforms for the past 20 years since I was in high school, and it’s still a pressing issue,” he remarked. Mr. Nata called for an educational system that aligns more closely with industry needs, suggesting enhanced collaboration between educational institutions and MSMEs from primary to tertiary levels.
He also stressed the necessity of improving training facilities and curricula to better prepare students with the practical skills that employers are seeking. “We need to start addressing these issues from the ground up,” he stated, adding that the education system must ensure that graduates are not only qualified but also ready for industry.
In addition to local training initiatives, Mr. Nata recommended considering labor sources from the Pacific region and developing strategies to effectively reintegrate returning Fijians into the workforce to help fill the skills gap and foster the growth of MSMEs.