Frustrated graduate vets from the Fiji National University say they urgently need clear answers from the FNU and the Ministry of Agriculture as to when they will get registered to become practicing vets in Fiji.
This has been an ongoing issue for the past years with no resolution found for the students, and all this is happening when our country has a shortage of vets.
One of the graduates who is still not registered as a vet from 2019, Elaine Jamieson says this is very disappointing and it puts a lot of pressure on her family on what's happening in her career as they have spent around $40,000 to $80,000 including allowances to do almost 87 units and 85 exam papers which is not easy at all.
The students are questioning how and why the program was offered to them in the first place when FNU could not get the registration sorted out, as the students have spent many years and thousands of dollars, and are still not registered as vets.
She says it is also very upsetting as after 6 years of studying, FNU sent them emails to apply for jobs at call centres which makes no sense.
They say even their FNU vet degree is not accredited and they have a huge burden to pay off their Tertiary Education Loan Scheme debt. Speaking on behalf of the vet graduates who raised their concerns with fijivillage News, Shavneel Chetty says whenever they raise concerns with the FNU, they are told that the programs will be reviewed to come up with a solution and solve their issues but nothing happens.
He says they were also told that they will have to do a qualifying exam and training but for that, there needs to be a council and the Veterinary Association currently does not have the same level of authority or power as the council.
Chetty says this is also not fair to go back and study or do internships after spending 6 years in a particular program as there are a lot of things to be considered as well.
Questions are also being raised on what is happening with the qualifying exam and training being talked about by the FNU, when it will be done and whether the graduates will have to pay more money.
The graduate also says when he raised concerns with the former Minister of Agriculture, Doctor Mahendra Reddy, he was told that the Ministry cannot do much as the program is not very good.
Wilson Finiasi says this has also affected some of their friends mentally as they cannot succeed in their career, and some have ended up hurting themselves as well.
He says they feel like they have wasted their 6 years of studying and money.
We have sent questions to the Ministry of Agriculture and the FNU on why has there been a delay to get the graduates registered, when will the issue be resolved and whether it would be an extra cost for the students again. They are yet to respond.
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