There is a notable increase in students now attending tertiary institutions in Fiji but there are still areas that need improvement with regards to the right environment to learn in.
SODELPA MP Aseri Radrodro raised this in parliament in his end of week statement and says this is a problem when tertiary students become limited in their ability to be the best they can be because their environment of learning especially their accommodation, eating and training facilities is badly compromised and limited.
Radrodro says a group of students from Fiji National University’s Lautoka campus who are on the TELS loan scheme had highlighted to him the limited space available to cater for campus boarding.
Radrodro says similar problems have been faced by FNU students on attachment in the Navua campus.
He says that FNU is a government supported institution and the government must ensure that it sets an example to other tertiary institution.
In his response Minister for Education and Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says there are accommodation issues faced in Lautoka.
Sayed Khaiyum says it was highlighted in the 2017-2018 budget that annual allowance for semester students has been increased from $4,334 to $6,600.
Sayed Khiayum says that trimester based students will receive an allowance of $7,125 instead $5,736 and TELS students have been given $1,000 for other incidentals too.
