16,611 students under TELS at a cost of $93 million while 2,525 students under the National Toppers Scheme

Minister for Education Rosy Akbar says currently there are 16,611 students under the Tertiary Education Loan Scheme at a cost of $93 million while there are 2,525 students under the National Toppers Scheme.

She highlighted this while responding to FijiFirst MP, Jale Sigarara’s question as to what are the priority areas for Toppers Scholarships and the categories for TELS available for the 2021 academic calendar.

Akbar says $46.4 million has been allocated for the National Toppers Scheme, $66.8 million is for tuition fees under TELS and $46.7 million is for the allowances under TELS.

Akbar says that under the National Toppers Scheme, 90 scholarships are for Engineering progammes, 90 for Health, 50 for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, 35 for Technology, 5 for Social Sciences, 30 for Environmental and Marine Sciences, 20 for Land and Town Planning, 120 for Commerce Studies, 150 for Education and 10 for Special Areas.

She adds that COVID-19 has had a major impact on government revenue but they are continuing the TELS and Toppers schemes.