Fiji’s education system needs transformation - Professor Shameem

Education in Fiji needs to be planned holistically from early childhood to tertiary instead of piecemeal.

This has been highlighted by the University of Fiji Vice-Chancellor Professor Shaista Shameem in her New Year's address to the staff and students.

Professor Shameem says she agrees with the statement made by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka that the Fijian government has made a strong effort to provide access to free and quality education as well as a broader scope in the educational landscape.

She says UniFiji is now focused on educational renaissance, by moving beyond mere resilience.

Professor Shameem adds UniFiji sees education as being available to all from early childhood to whenever without any barriers.

She says the sky is the limit as far as UniFiji's educational development strategy is concerned.

Professor Shameem also highlighted that she told their staff that they need to respect everyone in Fiji as knowledge holders of society, whether or not they had formal qualifications.

Professor Shameem says the notion of education should undergo a fundamental revision to ensure that every citizen can proudly feel like a valued member of society.

She says UniFiji would grasp the educational bull by the horns and transform it for the public good from 2025 and it will employ four main strategies in this plan.

The Vice Chancellor says the university would promote holistic, inclusive and broad-based educational policy review which, if organised and implemented well under innovative and honest leadership at all levels - traditional as well as modern would transform Fiji for all, not just a select few.

She adds it would also restore confidence in the nation and encourage everyone to remain in Fiji to put their collective shoulders to the wheel for the benefit of all.