The Back-to-School Support payments for the 2025 academic year have been successfully distributed ahead of the initially planned date of January 15, providing families with valuable additional time—about two and a half weeks—to prepare for the new school year, which begins on January 27. This initiative has seen a total of 208,673 applications, with 200,176 being processed, resulting in a significant payout of $40.4 million.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad, stated that the remaining 8,313 applications are on hold pending Year-12 exam results, which are required for students to officially enroll in Year-13. The financial support of $200 per child is aimed at easing the financial burden related to essential school expenses, including uniforms, school bags, shoes, and stationery.

Families can access these funds through digital platforms like MPAiSA and MyCASH, or collect them at Post Fiji outlets, particularly benefiting those in maritime areas who can collect funds by presenting the child’s student ID as proof. This initiative is part of the Coalition Government’s larger effort to support families, specifically targeting those with household incomes below $50,000. The government has historically invested approximately $130 million annually in educational assistance, positively impacting around 200,000 students each year.

The early disbursement of payments serves not only as financial relief for families during the back-to-school season but also as a demonstration of the government’s commitment to ensuring educational readiness. This effort reflects a hopeful outlook for families as they prepare their children for a new school year filled with opportunities.

In summary, this timely financial aid highlights the important collaboration between the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education, reinforcing the community’s commitment to supporting educational initiatives and helping families navigate the challenges of back-to-school expenses.