Watesoni Nata Jr, a businessman in Suva and chairman of the MSME Council under the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEF), has emphasized the necessity for educational reform to address the skills shortage in Fiji. During the Pacific Polytech panel discussions on the skills gap held in Suva last week, Nata pointed out that micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) employ approximately 60 percent of the country’s workforce and play a crucial role in contributing to the national GDP. He noted that the existing skills mismatches significantly hinder the MSME sector’s potential.
Nata criticized the Ministry of Education for its slow pace in implementing reforms, which he argues have not adequately addressed the skills gap that affects MSMEs. He expressed concern about the continuing challenges related to skills gaps, including the lack of soft skills among graduates, identifying these issues as longstanding, dating back to his high school years.
He advocated for an education system that is more closely aligned with industry needs, from primary to tertiary levels, and stressed the importance of fostering collaboration between educational institutions and MSMEs. Furthermore, he called for better training facilities and curricula that would prepare students with the practical skills that employers require.
Nata asserted the need to tackle these issues from the grassroots level, stating that the education system must produce graduates who are not only qualified but are also ready for the workforce. In addition to enhancing local training, he proposed exploring labor sources from other Pacific nations and developing better integration strategies for returning Fijians to help fill the skills gaps and support the growth of MSMEs.