Forty-three iTaukei students from Tailevu have been awarded scholarships to support their tertiary studies, the Tailevu Provincial Council announced at a ceremony this week. The bursaries, administered through the province’s scholarship committee, are intended to ease the financial burden on families who struggle to cover the rising costs of higher education and technical training.
The event was officiated by Dr Akanisi Kedrayate, Pasifika Communities University Pro‑Chancellor and chair of the Tailevu Provincial Council scholarship committee, who urged recipients to make the most of the opportunity. Dr Kedrayate also told those gathered that the committee has stepped up its support in recent weeks, issuing more than five undergraduate scholarships and three postgraduate awards in the past month alone — a sign of increased activity by the provincial body to expand access to tertiary study.
While the 43 scholarships announced at the ceremony cover a range of tertiary pathways, Dr Kedrayate highlighted a noticeable uptick in applications from young iTaukei students seeking courses in education and trade disciplines. She said the trend reflects a growing preference among Tailevu youth for practical, community‑focused careers that can deliver immediate benefits to villages and towns across the province.
The provincial scholarships are part of an ongoing effort by Tailevu leaders to support local students whose families often shoulder significant financial pressure to send children to universities, colleges and vocational training centres. Committee members said the awards are designed not only to relieve short‑term costs but also to build the province’s human resource base by supporting academic and professional development that aligns with local needs.
Committee officials provided no detailed breakdown of award amounts at the ceremony, but stressed that the programme is flexible in covering both academic and trade qualifications. The additional undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships granted in the past month indicate the committee is continuing to process and approve applications outside of the main awards event, ensuring timely support for students starting or continuing study this academic year.
Provincial scholarship initiatives such as Tailevu’s aim to broaden opportunities for young people from rural and urban communities within the province. By prioritising fields like education and trades, the council hopes recipients will return skills that contribute to schools, small businesses and infrastructure projects locally. Dr Kedrayate’s message to recipients underscored that scholarships carry an expectation of commitment to study and, ultimately, to serving the province’s development goals.
The Tailevu Provincial Council scholarship committee said it will continue to receive and assess applications as the academic year progresses, with further awards possible as funds and eligible candidates are identified.
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