All these rumours about the new coalition government removing government assistance like social welfare support and free tuition fee are false rumours spread by some people.
This was stated by Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad during the budget consultations at Nadi Civic Centre.
Professor Prasad says he is making this very clear that these rumours have no basis, they are malicious and are not something that the coalition government ever mentioned or is planning to do.
He says there were also rumours that students will not get scholarships which is just another lie that people don’t have to believe.
Professor Prasad says in fact the Government is looking at how scholarships can be improved.
He says they have already decided that all the debt totaling up to almost $613 million that was burdening the parents and their children is going to be taken off the books.
Professor Prasad has clarified that all students loans will be scrapped, and students will be offered scholarships with bonds.
He had revealed this while responding to questions on students loans during the fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan.
Professor Prasad says scholarship students will be bonded to serve in the country, and if they don’t serve, the student will have to pay whatever amount was used for their studies.
He also highlighted that the student loans system was a burden to families with low income because the student after graduating, will have a debt burden hanging on them.
When questioned on what will happen to those students still on TELS, Professor Prasad says the system they have created will cater for all students, and he has given the assurance that no student will be affected in a bad way.
Meanwhile Professor Prasad is the Acting Prime Minister as Sitiveni Rabuka is away on a state visit to Samoa.
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