Providing scholarships to the extent that is in this budget is unprecedented in the history of this country - with $148 million allocated for these scholarships.
This has been stated by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka while supporting the 2023/2024 National Budget.
Gavoka salutes the political will of the coalition government to write off the TELS debt and bring relief to some 53,700 youths or families.
Gavoka says this coalition government does not care on the make up of these numbers whether they be Indo-Fijians, i-Taukei or others, it is for all young men and women of this nation.
The Deputy Prime Minister says writing off the TELS debt has been something he has been campaigning about while he was still on the opposite side of the house, and these scholarships are now almost as equal to free tertiary.
Gavoka says they have been questioned so many times on where they will get the money to make this a possibility.
He adds that the coalition government can do it and has the political will to lift the burden from the men and women of this country and almost provide unlimited scholarships going forward for new students.
He says the budget was not easy and it is important that we acknowledge it.
Gavoka says they have made a collective commitment to change for the sake of our people and they will make sure to see that it will be delivered.
