People’s Alliance Deputy Leader, Manoa Kamikamica confirms that they will forgive the current TELS loans if they come into government after next month’s general elections and they will also replace the Tertiary Loan Scheme and National Toppers Scholarship with full scholarships and bond conditions.
Kamikamica confirms the TELS loans will be written off and the new scholarships from next year will be funded from the existing budget allocation of $162.6 million.
The TELS loans was forecast to reach $591.8 million as at July this year.
Kamikamica says in essence, the same number of students will be funded but there will be no student loans.
According to the People’s Alliance manifesto, they will immediately establish an Education Commission to review the entire education system in the country that shall recommend improvement in the quality of teaching and leadership of the school system.
The Education Commission shall also review the curriculum and/or suggest processes to do so.
The People’s Alliance says they will also commence payment of USP grants.
The outstanding Fijian government grants to USP totals more than $80 million.
