Fifty-three percent of the 20,746 students enrolled in the Tertiary Scholarship Loans Scheme (TSLS) are females, as announced by the Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro. During the launch of the TSLS ICT initiatives and framework at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva, Radrodro expressed pride in these statistics, emphasizing the government’s commitment to providing affordable access to quality education for both genders.
He remarked, “The people’s Coalition Government is making serious strides towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 on quality education.” This goal encompasses enhancing relevant skills for youth and adults, including technical and vocational skills aimed at facilitating employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship.
Radrodro spotlighted the government’s efforts to eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access for all, including vulnerable groups such as individuals with disabilities and indigenous peoples. Due to a high demand for vocational education, the government is focusing on competency training aimed at addressing the skills labor shortage, particularly targeting unemployed youths and early school dropouts through specialized training in sectors like construction, tourism, hospitality, automotive, and business management.
Increasing representation of female students in such a significant scheme reflects a positive shift toward inclusivity in education, allowing for a more skilled and diverse workforce. As similar articles have highlighted, the TSLS has witnessed a rise in scholarship applications, demonstrating the effectiveness of the government’s educational policies. The current statistics indicate a promising trend towards an educated population that can meet the demands of the labor market effectively.
Overall, these continued investments in education signify a hopeful narrative for the future, empowering students and contributing to economic growth in Fiji.
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