Education Minister Aseri Radrodro has raised concerns about a declining interest in education among students in Fiji. During a parliamentary session, he revealed that this year’s Fiji Year 8 Examination (FY8E) achieved a pass rate of 69 percent, which, while the highest in recent years, still indicates that over 6,000 out of 19,359 Year 8 students failed the assessment but will progress to Year 9.
Mr. Radrodro pointed out that while the results show an improving trend since a decline in 2022 (62 percent), overall performance has been inconsistent since 2015. He acknowledged several systemic issues affecting student success, including poor motivation, an outdated curriculum, overcrowded classrooms, and ineffective leadership within schools.
The Minister expressed concern particularly for rural schools, which recorded a lower pass rate of 63 percent compared to 70 percent for urban schools. He also highlighted ethnic disparities in the exam results, where iTaukei students had a 67 percent pass rate, Indo-Fijians achieved 73 percent, and Rotumans had the highest at 76 percent.
To tackle these challenges, Mr. Radrodro identified factors such as a misaligned curriculum, high student-teacher ratios, inadequate academic preparedness, behavioral problems, and disengaged parents—all hindering student progress.
In response, the Ministry is working on reforms, including the introduction of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) for Year 8 and Year 9 students. Furthermore, he noted the need to reassess the “no-repeat” policy, which allows failing students to advance to the next grade without proper remediation. Emphasis will also be placed on monitoring schools that consistently underperform to hold their leadership accountable.
Mr. Radrodro called for a collective effort from teachers, parents, and communities to foster an environment that values education and motivates students to strive for their best. He emphasized the importance of collaboration to ensure that all children in Fiji have opportunities to learn and succeed.
This focus on systemic reform and collective responsibility is a hopeful step forward for Fiji’s education system, suggesting that with the right support and resources, students can achieve their full potential despite the current challenges. The initiative to incorporate vocational training is particularly encouraging as it recognizes the need to equip students with practical skills for the workforce, promoting a more engaged and career-ready generation.
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