The Government says 1,253 students with special needs are currently enrolled in Fiji’s 18 special schools as it ramps up efforts to expand inclusive education beyond urban centres. Education Minister Aseri Radrodro provided the figure and outlined new measures in Parliament on Tuesday, saying the ministry will prioritise extending services to rural and underserved communities through district-level coordination.
Radrodro told MPs the students in special schools cover a wide spectrum of needs, including physical impairments, hearing and visual disabilities, socio‑emotional and intellectual challenges, and autism. “At the moment, there are 18 special schools around the country… and access is usually limited for those students in the outer and rural communities,” he said, underscoring the rationale for the planned expansion.
To support learners, the ministry has set a funding baseline of $500 per child, with additional assistance determined by a disability index intended to tailor support to varying needs. The minister also stressed that enrolment in special schools remains open throughout the year, which allows for continuous intake and smoother transitions for students whose circumstances change outside the traditional school calendar.
The 18 special schools are distributed across Fiji, with a concentration in the Central Division — six in the Suva district — and clusters of four schools across Lautoka, Nadi and Yasawa. Other facilities are located in Ba/Tavua, Ra, Nadroga/Navosa, Nausori, Cakaudrove, Macuata/Bua and Levuka, giving the network national reach even as the ministry acknowledges service gaps in outer islands and remote rural areas.
Radrodro said district-level coordination will be a key part of the rollout to ensure services are extended beyond major urban centres. He did not provide a timeline in Parliament for the full expansion or detailed budget figures beyond the per‑child baseline, but framed the moves as part of a broader commitment to strengthen inclusive education and ensure students with disabilities can access support regardless of where they live.
The announcement marks the latest development in the ministry’s efforts to address educational equity for children with disabilities. By publishing current enrolment numbers, confirming funding parameters and flagging district coordination as a priority, the government has set out the immediate administrative measures it intends to use to broaden access — with the next steps likely to focus on implementation in rural districts and the allocation of additional resources according to the disability index.