The rising number of school dropouts has prompted the general secretary of the Fiji Teachers Union (FTU), Muniappa Gounder, to call for a comprehensive review of the school curriculum by the Ministry of Education. Gounder emphasized that children today are losing interest in their studies rapidly and that an updated curriculum should be more engaging and relevant to students’ lives.
According to Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro, 5,726 students have dropped out of school before completing Year 10 from 2019 to 2023. Although specific reasons for these dropouts were not documented, common factors reported include death, relocation, transfers from public to private schools, and medical issues.
Gounder argued against a curriculum primarily influenced by overseas models, asserting that it leads to disinterest among students. He suggested that some schools have begun to embrace digital learning, which aligns better with the current digital literacy of students, and he believes this approach is essential for engagement.
He noted that increasing absenteeism is largely due to a lack of interest in school, and suggested that government assistance might discourage students from being motivated. Gounder expressed concern that some parents do not take their educational responsibilities seriously, leading to a generation that does not appreciate the significance of education. He pointed out that previous generations were driven by their parents’ sacrifices, whereas today’s parents tend to be less involved, resulting in diminished commitment to their children’s education.
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