Concerns have arisen over the significant number of students dropping out of the education system early. Between 2019 and 2023, approximately 4,589 students left before completing primary education and 5,726 before finishing Year 10. Education Minister Aseri Radrodro disclosed these figures during a parliamentary session, responding to Opposition MP Hem Chand.
Radrodro indicated that the reasons behind these dropouts are complex and varied. Although specific reasons were not officially documented, schools report factors such as death, migration, transitioning from public to private schools, employment opportunities, and health issues.
Despite receiving substantial annual budget allocations for education, the high dropout rates raise critical questions about the effectiveness of the current educational strategies. According to Chand, since the introduction of the Free Education Grant a decade ago, the government has invested around $650 million in 738 primary, 176 secondary, and over 870 early childhood education institutions.
This raises important questions about what may have gone wrong in the educational system, especially with such a strong emphasis on education. The situation threatens the country’s future, as the United Nations considers education a fundamental building block of society and a vital investment for equitable development.
Education not only serves as a right but also as a gateway to human development, opening opportunities and fostering freedom. Early school leavers are at risk of facing unemployment, poverty, early marriage, and unplanned pregnancies. Various global factors contribute to high dropout rates, including poverty, gender disparities, disabilities, family crises, conflicts, and perceived low returns on educational investment.
In Fiji, understanding the local circumstances preventing children from staying in school is crucial in addressing this issue. Discussions need to include families, communities, and national leaders, as the challenges facing the youth and future of the nation are significant yet manageable.
It is important to prioritize efforts to alleviate the teacher shortage, improve working conditions, enhance literacy, and increase parental involvement in education. With education being vital for national development, immediate and effective action is necessary to ensure that children receive the education they deserve.