Minister for Education Premila Kumar says government has committed funding for 8,609 students through the National Toppers and Tertiary Education Loan Schemes this year.
Kumar highlighted this during the Easter celebration at the FNU Campus in Nasinu.
She says this consists of 547 Toppers scholarships, 120 in-service scholarship, 20 scholarships for students with special needs, 5,000 for TELS and TVET and an additional 2,942 for other categories of TELS.
Kumar says this is likely to push the total number of students assisted to beyond 60,000 for nine years since the inception of these two merit based schemes.
The Minister further says they want to produce graduates who would go out and contribute to the progress and success of their fellow Fijians.
Meanwhile, the Minister says Easter is a very important time for Christians to reflect on the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and His ultimate sacrifice to wash away the sins of this world.
She says it is also the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the tomb on the third day after His crucifixion and remembering the resurrection of Jesus is a way to renew hope and belief in victory over sin.
Kumar adds the victory of resurrection is at the base of the Christian message.
She says Christians believe that God sacrificed his only son, for the sins of the world, and we all should treasure that sacrifice.
