[Photo: File]

A total of 42 primary and secondary schools did not receive their Free Education Grant during the 2025 academic year after failing to meet financial management and accountability requirements.

Education Minister Aseri Radrodro says grant disbursements were withheld from 35 primary schools and seven secondary schools due to non-compliance with statutory financial management requirements.

The Eastern Division recorded the highest number of affected schools, with 20 primary and four secondary schools failing to meet the required standards.

In Lautoka and Yasawa, grants were withheld from six primary schools and one secondary school.

Three primary schools in Nadroga and Navosa were affected, while two primary schools in Macuata and Bua failed to meet the compliance requirements.

In Cakaudrove, two primary schools and one secondary school had their grants withheld, while Nausori recorded two affected primary schools and one secondary school.

Radrodro says the Ministry’s School Management Handbook sets out strict accountability requirements that schools must meet before Free Education Grant funds are released.

These include completing termly student class audits through the Fiji Education Management Information System, maintaining updated monthly bank reconciliations, and submitting Annual Financial Reports and Annual General Meeting minutes.

Despite the 42 schools that had their grants withheld in 2025, Radrodro says there has been a significant improvement in school administration and financial compliance across the country.

He says the number of non-compliant schools has declined sharply compared with 2022, when 117 primary schools and 41 secondary schools failed to qualify for the grant.

Radrodro says the Ministry is also reviewing its School Management Handbook in line with the Education Act 2026.

He says the review is aimed at strengthening transparency and institutional governance while streamlining requirements for school operations, financial management and maintenance compliance.