The University of Fiji has proposed a mandatory National Service curriculum to promote social responsibility among youth as part of the ongoing Education Act review.
Vice Chancellor Professor Shaista Shameem says the University Council has approved a cadet programme starting in 2025, the first at a university level in Fiji, as these programmes were previously only in some secondary schools.
She says the cadet programme has quickly built a sense of duty and maturity among the students who joined, and helped build a sense of community, which is a key part of the University's focus on human values.
She says there is no reason why national programmes like this can't be part of the education system to help young people move from school to contributing to the country.
She adds that mandatory national service, with a well-planned curriculum and support from the disciplined services, would build national pride and create job opportunities in security and related fields.
The Vice Chancellor says she understands the serious problems young people in Fiji face, such as rising HIV cases, poverty, few job options, poor leadership, and global crises.
She says a 6–12 month national service between ages 18 and 25 would help young people support others and build unity, responsibility, and resilience.
She adds that the service could take place during school or university holidays for convenience, but full-time service is also an option.
The University says the programme will be organized, open to everyone, and gender-neutral, teaching important skills like civic education, human values, security, environmental response, leadership, and community service.
Professor Shameem says the University has prepared clauses to add to the new Education Act and will send them to the Ministry of Education in due course.
She says the proposal notes that national service will help young people learn respect, responsibility, and how to contribute to the nation, while encouraging future generations to be more civic-minded.
She adds this is backed by examples from countries like Norway, South Korea, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, and Israel, which all have different types of national service.
Professor Shameem says Fiji would need to consider these examples carefully in order to develop its own curriculum for national service.
She says when talking with stakeholders about the new education curriculum, many suggested having a national, community-focused disciplined service.
The University then conducted its own research to see if the programme would work in Fiji and found that it would, based on international examples and their broad approach to education, so it recommends adding a new section to the Education Act that explains the national service curriculum and names the authorities in charge
Professor Shameem emphasizes the importance of ensuring that young people participating in national service feel valued.
She says payment and insurance details will be discussed next if the idea is approved.
She adds that the University sees mandatory national service as a way to give Fiji’s young people important values like wisdom, safety, discipline, and purpose, while also helping them work together across cultures to build the nation and boost national pride.
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