The High Education Commission of Fiji is collaborating with universities to align technical and vocational education and training studies with higher education programs.

The government has incurred a loss of $160 million from 21, 685 tertiary students who studied under government’s support but failed to complete their studies.

Fiji National University Pro Vice-Chancellor for Technical and Vocational Education and Training, Dr. Isimeli Tagicakiverata, says that FNU is on track to produce over 100,000 skilled workers by next year and 200,000 by 2030.

Education Advisor for the Suva District, Aminiasi Voresara, says that students today are losing track of their goals.

The Higher Education Commission of Fiji is committed to ensuring that any investment of taxpayers’ dollars is justified and delivers a substantial return on investment for the government.

The Higher Education Commission of Fiji has today clarified that it has neither signed any grant agreement with any higher education institutions nor has it disbursed any grants from the 2024/25 National Budget.

The Australian government has provided $33 million grant funding support to upgrade school infrastructure along the Suva-Nausori corridor.

Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad emphasizes that the government’s goal for recipients of Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Service is to ensure they contribute back to the country.

Despite calls for a 30 percent salary increase by teachers’ unions and associations, Education Minister Aseri Radrodro says he is satisfied that civil servants will see a pay raise, although smaller than requested.

The substantial increase in salaries within the civil service may have been music to the ears of some workers within government, but it has not been favourably accepted by the major civil-servant unions.

The Ministry of Education is urging teacher unions to engage in consultations with the Ministry to reach an agreement before any strike action is taken.

The government’s three, five, and 20-year development plans will play a huge role in helping to identify the types of skilled people universities will need to produce.