Cabinet endorses reintroduction of scaling and student progression and retention policy

Cabinet has endorsed the reintroduction of scaling of marks across all national examination levels, commencing from the 2026 academic year while a Student Progression and Retention Policy has also been introduced.

The government says this decision aligns with international best practices and supports national education priorities, ensuring a fair and consistent assessment system for all students.

It adds that the scaling process will encourage students to take up more challenging subjects, particularly in STEM, computer studies, and commerce, helping to build a skilled and competitive workforce for Fiji’s future.

Meanwhile, the Student Progression and Retention Policy for Fiji’s primary and secondary school system provides a clear framework for assessing student progress, ensuring that decisions about a student’s advancement or repetition are made collaboratively between parents, students, teachers, and the Head of School.

It says progress will be measured through students’ literacy and numeracy competency levels, with targeted interventions and support systems to help every student succeed.

The government says special programmes will also be developed by the Ministry’s Curriculum Advisory Services and TVET Sections to support vulnerable learners, including students with disabilities, those from low-income families, and students at risk of dropping out — ensuring that no child is left behind in their education journey.