Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro has clarified that the Higher Education Commission of Fiji does not directly monitor the teaching hours of every educator or course offered by higher education institutions, as this responsibility primarily lies with the institutions themselves.
Responding to a question from Opposition Member of Parliament Hem Chand, who asked how the Commission ensures that required teaching hours are fulfilled as prescribed in course descriptions, Radrodro says the Commission operates under its regulatory functions as outlined in the Higher Education Commission Act.
He explained that while the Commission plays an oversight and quality assurance role, the detailed monitoring of teaching hours for every educator and every course offered across all higher education institutions falls within the internal academic policy of the institution.
He says attempting such an exercise would require the Higher Education Commission to verify the individual working hours of all academic staff and reconcile institutional timesheets and records.
The Minister emphasised that the Commission’s role is to uphold and monitor quality assurance standards at a systemic level, which includes ensuring that approved programmes are delivered in line with accredited curriculum standards, institutions employ qualified staff, and effective internal monitoring mechanisms are in place to ensure compliance with their own academic requirements.
The Opposition MP questioned the Education Minister about what happens if an institution fails to meet the Commission's standards, to which Radrodro says that if any breaches are reported or verified, the Commission has the authority to investigate and take appropriate action under its regulatory framework.
