The sentiment surrounding Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Fiji is evolving, as it seeks to redefine its position within the educational landscape. Isoa Tauribau, the TVET director from the Ministry of Education, expressed the need for a paradigm shift during the recent 2025 Education Forum, emphasizing that TVET should not be viewed as a secondary option, especially for students whom traditional academic pathways may not suit.
Tauribau noted that societal attitudes continue to frame vocational learning as a fallback for struggling students, stifling its true potential in fostering employment and contributing to economic growth. To initiate this change, he called for increased awareness and advocacy from parents, who play a crucial role in guiding their children’s educational choices. He stressed, “To change the mindset of the people, we need to go back to our homes,” underscoring the importance of family attitudes toward education.
Complementing these remarks, Sekope Toduadua, an IT manager at the Ministry of Education, highlighted successful models from several Asian countries where TVET is introduced as a mainstream educational pathway starting from the primary level. This approach not only normalizes vocational training but also makes it an integral part of the educational journey, ensuring students properly consider these paths as valid career options alongside academic achievements.
The Ministry aims to incorporate TVET principles into early childhood education, thus embedding vocational skills from a young age. Tauribau indicated initiatives already underway at the Early Childhood Education (ECE) level that introduce foundational learning skills aligned with TVET. An emphasis on developing these early skills could significantly impact the perception of vocational training in Fiji.
This development aligns with the growing push within Fiji to modernize and enhance educational approaches for better workforce readiness. Previous discussions by various educational leaders have also drawn attention to revising curricula to align more closely with industry needs, reflecting a national urgency to equip students adequately for future employment opportunities.
Fiji’s commitment to enhancing TVET reflects hope for the future, indicating a collective effort to reshape perceptions of vocational education, empower families and communities, and positively influence the national economy through a more skilled workforce. This strategy of embedding vocational education early on may lead to significant advancements in both individual careers and the country’s overall economic health.
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