Opposition parliamentarian Hem Chand has expressed his shock regarding the recent disclosure by Education Minister Aseri Radrodro that more than 1,000 students have dropped out of primary school over the past five years.
During a parliamentary session, Mr. Chand inquired with Mr. Radrodro about the Ministry’s efforts to identify students who have had to leave school and the measures being taken to support those affected children. He also questioned the number of students who have exited the education system before completing primary education and Year 10 during this same period.
Mr. Chand described it as “absolutely shocking” that over 1,000 students have left school before finishing Year 8, particularly in light of the free education initiative introduced by the Bainimarama government in 2014. He noted that since the establishment of the Free Education Grant a decade ago, the government has allocated around $650 million to support 738 primary schools, 176 secondary schools, and over 870 early childhood education institutions.
He argued that the grant has significantly alleviated the financial burdens faced by parents, students, teachers, and school management committees. Emphasizing the importance of education, Mr. Chand stated, “Children are the future of Fiji, and we want to see all of them educated.”
He expressed concern that if the Coalition government does not tackle the issue of school dropouts, it may lead to an increase in youth crime. He pointed out that teenagers who should be in school are instead found on the streets of Lautoka City soliciting money, while their peers are engaged in education.
Mr. Chand also brought attention to the ongoing drug problem, noting that students have been caught with drugs and that narcotics have been discovered on school grounds. He criticized the Coalition Government for focusing solely on plans without taking substantial action to resolve the dropout crisis and its related issues.