The free education initiative has been recognized as a significant policy aimed at providing every child the chance to complete their schooling without financial burden. However, the recent figures showing 5,726 secondary school dropouts and 4,589 unregistered primary school students from 2019 to 2023 highlight a concerning trend of neglect.
Despite efforts from the Ministry of Education, including transport assistance and vocational training pathways, these troubling statistics underscore a critical issue: parents are failing their children. Education Minister Aseri Radrodro’s statements in Parliament should have provoked strong reactions across households in Fiji. Instead of pointing fingers at the government, parents need to reflect on their responsibilities. With free schooling, complimentary textbooks, and bus fare support available, the question arises: why are so many students still slipping through the system?
The reasons given—migration, family issues, or choosing employment over education—are merely surface-level explanations. The fundamental problem lies in a lack of valuation of education and a failure to prioritize the future of Fiji’s youth. Too frequently, parents attribute blame to external factors instead of acknowledging their roles in the crisis.
When families do not underscore the significance of education, the outcome is a generation at risk of missing critical opportunities and facing hardship. Reverend Simione Tugi poses crucial questions about the consequences of this negligence: “If this is what we are noticing, then what can we expect? Will we see an increase in youths on the streets committing crimes?” These concerns are becoming an alarming reality for Fiji. If families do not begin to accept responsibility, the nation will face escalating dropout rates, disillusioned youth, and a grim future.
It’s imperative for parents to engage actively, prioritize education, and commit time to their children’s learning. The government has fulfilled its obligations; now it’s time for parents to do the same.