Fiji needs to aggressively invest in talent development at this time to keep the skills set supply in our workforce - TSLS

As a developing country, Fiji needs to continuously and at this time, aggressively invest in talent development to keep the skills set supply in our workforce

The Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Service (TSLS) Board says that is their objective as they welcomed the recent budget announcement made by the Fijian Government.

It also says rebranding TVET to Skills Qualifications and establishing a new skills qualifications scholarship scheme is both a radical and contemporary measure to give equal respect and acceptance against qualifications classified as higher education or Year 13 and above in the Fiji Qualifications Framework.

The TSLS Board acknowledges the commitment made by the Fijian Government to invest and empower Fiji’s future.

It says building human capital for the Fijian workforce will be a strategic priority for economic recovery and all facets of nation building.

The board says the global labour market trend is seeing developing countries losing skilled workers to developed ones.

He says it will be a record in Fijian history as they award a total of 9200 scholarships and study loans for the 2022-2023 budget.

The Chairman says in addition to that, there will be 200 awards for grants for micro qualifications for construction skills set and $100 per month industrial attachment allowance which will also include private students for the first time.

He adds the government has made significant strides in addressing inequality to ensure no Fijian is left behind from accessing tertiary education and help transform lives and the workforce with changing labour market patterns.

Ram says scholarships and study loans for Postgraduate Diploma, Masters and Ph.D is another milestone in the government’s strong push for innovation, research led planning and development and creation of new knowledge for a knowledge based society.