Fiji is poised to benefit significantly from the government’s investment in quality education and research degrees over the next four years, according to Education Minister Aseri Radrodro.
During his Ministerial statement in Parliament on Monday, he discussed insights gained from a recent delegation visit to Australia by the Tertiary Scholarship and Loans Service (TSLS). Sponsored students expressed the need to review the education curriculum to facilitate a smoother transition from secondary school to universities, particularly in subjects like mathematics, physics, and computer science.
Radrodro noted a considerable disparity between what students learn in Year 13 in Fiji and what is taught in foreign universities. He emphasized that the Coalition Government is committed to improving education and will make significant progress in its developmental objectives.
He highlighted that the increase in scholarship quotas for undergraduate students and the introduction of new scholarship schemes would enable more Fijians to pursue quality education in Australia and New Zealand. While acknowledging the provision of Australian Awards Scholarships to Fijians, he pointed out the lack of monitoring regarding how long graduates return to serve in Fiji after their studies.
Discussions with the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in Canberra focused on the potential for bonding students who receive Australia Awards through TSLS. This would ensure that graduates commit to serving a minimum of five years in Fiji before being released from their bond.
Radrodro noted that Fiji has experienced a loss of approximately 2.5 percent of its population due to permanent and circular migration, with Australia being the favored destination. He acknowledged the challenges the government faces in investing in skills development amid competing national priorities.