People in the Northern Division will now have easier access to quality education after the opening of the Higher Education Commission Fiji office in Labasa.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka highlighted this while speaking at the launch saying this initiative aligns with their broader goals of empowering individuals, promoting sustainable development and a resilient workforce.
Rabuka says with the office opening in the North we can look forward to further growth in the region's education landscape and offer opportunities to young people.
He says they have permanent secretaries, diplomats and ministers who have been through the education systems in the North before the higher education institutions came into the North.
The Prime Minister says young people are fortunate that these opportunities are opening up for them.
He says the establishment of the office is not just about having a physical presence, it is about breaking barriers as targeted investment in education and skills development is required to unlock those potentials.
The Prime Minister further says that a major challenge the country is currently facing is the increasing exodus of the skilled professionals.
He says it is a reality that impacts not only the workforce, but also the communities and society.
Rabuka adds that by nurturing talent here in the Northern Division and ensuring that the young people see a future for themselves, not only within Fiji, but also within the region and further abroad, they can begin to address, even reverse, this trend of outward education and employment migration.
