50 National Toppers Scholarships are being made available for Diploma in Counseling.

However, Minister for Education Rosy Akbar is mindful that not a lot of people are interested in this field of study.

The Education Minister hopes the scholarships for counseling will attract more young Fijians to join the profession.

Akbar says this is a critical step in ensuring teachers are well equipped to counsel students.

“I think it’s important to have counselors based in schools. If not in all schools they could be based in divisions because the need is greater now than ever. We’ve mentioned cyber-bullying, sexual harassment, and TC Yasa and COVID. All of this is putting a lot of pressure on the student’s mental health.”

Akbar says there is a need for more fully-fledged counselors in schools to help students deal with certain issues or situations, and provide them with guidance.

“This is the beginning of an initiative where we will be able to address the gaps in the education system in terms of providing psychosocial support. Of course, we normally rely on the Ministry of Women and Empower Pacific because they have counselors but and I think it’s important that we have counselors based in schools.”

Meanwhile, 35 teachers graduates from APTC are now fully-fledged counselors assigned to all the four Divisions.

The Ministry of Education hopes more students will show interest in pursuing a career path in counseling to address the shortage in Fiji.