Praneeta Prakash 
[Photo: File]
The number of students dropping out of Fiji’s schools has fallen significantly, with new figures showing improved student retention at both primary and secondary levels.
Education Minister Aseri Radrodro says primary school dropouts fell from 1,200 in 2024 to 740 last year.
Secondary school dropouts more than halved, falling from 869 in 2024 to 400 last year.
The figures were revealed in Parliament after Opposition MP Hem Chand questioned why students were leaving school before completing Year Eight.
Radrodro says the government is using a range of measures to keep students in school.
“This financial assistance on the strategy that we are trying to put in place, the free education grant, transport assistance, the $200 back-to-school assistance, and for this 2026 school year, the back-to-school assistance of $41.8 million has been paid out to 208,764 students. The 2026-27 budget also provides $54 million for blue and yellow student cards and continues with the free education grant.”
Radrodro says schools also have an important role in identifying students who may be at risk of disengaging from education.
Attendance and student welfare concerns are monitored, and schools are expected to engage parents and guardians and refer cases requiring additional support.”
He says the Education Act 2026 further strengthens the legal framework covering education from early childhood through to higher education.
