National Federation Party leader Professor Biman Prasad has dismissed calls for an investigation into the funding of Pacific Polytech, asserting that the financial support was duly authorized by Parliament. He emphasized that budget allocations stem from requests made by organizations and individuals, as dictated by the Ministry of Finance’s call for budget submissions. Professor Prasad, a former Finance Minister, clarified that the responsibility for funding higher education institutions lies with the Ministry of Education, which is monitored by the Fiji Higher Education Commission (FHEC).
He explained that all educational institutions, including USP, FNU, UniFiji, and Pacific Polytech, enter into grant agreements that are reviewed by the Solicitor-General’s Office. “The role of the Ministry of Finance concludes once Parliament endorses the allocation, with further oversight taken on by the relevant ministry and regulatory body,” he stated.
Professor Prasad highlighted that Pacific Polytech was established in 2022 under the previous government to address the failures of technical colleges, which had cost nearly $30 million in abandoned initiatives. He noted that Pacific Polytech has revitalized aspects of this system, receiving funding for the 2023, 2024, and 2025-26 budgets based on their own submissions.
He further explained that if the Higher Education Commission has concerns about the institution’s operations or qualifications, it is their responsibility to handle those issues. “There is no justification for a parliamentary inquiry or investigation,” he remarked. Professor Prasad pointed out that closing an institution registered by the government that has already graduated thousands of students over recent years would be unjustifiable.
Notably, he emphasized that over 95 percent of Pacific Polytech’s students are iTaukei youth, many of whom had previously left school early and faced unemployment. “These young individuals from rural communities have gained skills and entered the workforce,” he added. Professor Prasad strongly criticized the calls for an investigation, labeling them as “rubbish,” and reaffirming the importance of the institution in providing educational opportunities to underserved youth in Fiji.
This firm stance by Professor Prasad highlights the significance of Pacific Polytech in fostering skill development among young people, while also underlining the necessary oversight mechanisms in place to ensure transparency and accountability in education funding.
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