Drugs and kava affecting young people’s decision-making skills - FNU

Drugs and kava are something universities really need to look into and the health sector needs to do more awareness on it, as it is affecting the young people’s decision-making skills.

Director of Academic Learning and Teaching of Fiji National University, Matereki Sukanaivalu highlighted this during Dialogue Fiji’s panel discussion on addressing quality in Fiji’s Tertiary Education at Tanoa Plaza in Suva.

Director of Academic Learning and Teaching says drugs and kava are the contributing factors in the decline in the quality of tertiary education in Fiji.

Sukanaivalu says that experiencing tropical cyclones such as Winston, Yasa, Harold, Pina and others have affected the duration of the learning outcomes before students graduate.

He says COVID-19 also affected the studies as there was a long gap that impacted the work that universities do, however they are working hard to deliver the expectations.

He says this year, they are trying to review the program at FNU and then have a consultation with the people and students to stay connected within the Fiji workforce.

Sukanaivalu further says some of the issues they have tried to mitigate as a university through their systems and processes to ensure there is quality assurance in what they offer.

He also questioned why they are told that the quality of the universities is declining and such discussion is important to exchange views and ideas on this issue.