A review is needed on the education curriculum in Fiji to allow students a smooth transition from secondary schools to universities, specifically in the areas and subjects of mathematics, physics, and computer science.
This was highlighted by the Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro while giving his ministerial statement on the recent TSLS delegation visitation which he led to Sydney and Canberra, Australia.
Radrodro says it was highlighted in the visit that there is a vast difference between what is learned in year 13 in Fiji and what is taught in the universities and overseas.
He says the sponsored students were assured that the curriculum innovation and transformation from ECE to senior secondary is one of the priority areas of the ministry and as such the ministry is working towards the reviewing of the school curriculum.
He adds it costs the government around $300,000 to fund one undergraduate student in the overseas scholarship scheme when compared to $30,000 to $40,000 at a local university.
Radrodro says to help the commensurate return of service to the country against the investment, the bonding of overseas scholarship is now 2.5 times the duration of the study.
The Minister says under the overseas scholarship scheme, TSLS funds for programs which are part of the national priority areas but not offered by the local universities.
He says a total of 60 students were currently enrolled in areas such as cyber security, software engineering, veterinary science, data science, actuarial science, forensic science, architectural engineering, chemical engineering, biomedical engineering, environmental engineering, mechatronics engineering, speech pathology, and renewable energy at the New Zealand and Australia-based universities.
He adds with increasing scholarship quota at the undergraduate level and the introduction of new scholarship schemes, more Fijians will be pursuing quality education in Australia and New Zealand.
While responding to Radrodro, Opposition MP, Hem Chand says the Tertiary Scholarship Loans Service has spent $1.44 billion from the budget to assist around 70,000 students in the last 10 years of operation.
Chand says the total amount of taxpayers' money spent has indicated a huge contribution to Fiji that is prioritised through tertiary education and training programs.
He says previously, all students meeting the educational requirements at any tertiary institution were given loans, but that is not the case today.
He adds around 19,000 students have received admission into programs at universities but are studying privately because they did not qualify for a scholarship or loan.
Chand says the previous government established a sustainable funding model for tertiary education, creating a revolving fund for future students intending to study in tertiary institutions.
He says, unfortunately, the coalition government has created an unsustainable financial model, where taxpayers fork out around $150 million for tertiary education every year.
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