Ministry of Youth & Sports Principal Youth Officer Eastern Division, George Francis. Photo: MINISTRY OF YOUTH & SPORTS.
By ANA SOVA
Government is focused on making a more knowledgeable society.
Ministry of Youth & Sports Principal Youth Officer Eastern Division, George Francis informed students of Korovuto College during their prize giving day last week.
“As enshrined in Section 31 of the 2013 Constitution, every Fijian is guaranteed the right to education including access to proper school infrastructure and learning facilities necessary to foster quality education at all levels,” Mr. Francis said.
He said in the 2016-2017 Budget, a total of $448.5 million was allocated to the Ministry of Education.
“And as part of the free education programme and initiatives, the Fijian Government has provided $200 million towards the free tuition grant for Early Childhood, Primary, Secondary and Technical Vocational Education and Training,” Mr Francis said.
On that same note, Government has also established technical schools around the country, he said.
“The Technical College of Fiji was established to address the critical role of skills development in achieving sustained economic growth and social progress and to address the skills mismatch in the labour market against the increased demand for technical skills in various sectors,” Mr Francis said.
He said with these technical schools supplementing the non-formal education provided by the Ministry through their youth training centers and through the universities in the country, positive outcomes for the well being of young people will be achieved.
“I therefore urge you all to strive for only the best in your education”.
Furthermore, Government had announced in the 2016-2017 National Budget, in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Winston, a substantial amount of money for the rebuilding of damaged school infrastructure.
“This indicates Government’s unrelenting commitment to the education sector as a whole, be it during times of recovery from a natural disaster or otherwise,” Mr Francis said.
Mr Francis spoke on behalf of the Minister for Youth, Laisenia Tuitubou who couldn’t be present at the event due to other pressing business.