Concerns are being raised over changes to Government scholarship opportunities, including overseas scholarships and scholarships for commercial pilot training.
Opposition MP Hem Chand, who is calling on Government to explain the reasons and evidence behind the changes, says Year 13 students and parents deserve to know why the opportunities are being restricted and what alternatives will be available to affected students.
He says he is particularly concerned about the removal of scholarships for commercial pilot training.
Chand says if Government's justification is that Fiji currently has enough trained pilots, it should explain why the number of scholarships was not simply reduced instead of removing the opportunity altogether.
He says workforce requirements can change and Fiji needs to consider its future aviation needs.
On overseas scholarships, Chand says students should continue to have opportunities to pursue specialised qualifications that are not available in Fiji.
He says this is especially important for Year 13 students who have worked hard with the expectation that strong academic performance would give them an opportunity to compete for merit-based scholarships.
Chand is also calling for data on sponsored students who have graduated and are meaningfully employed.
He says the private sector is struggling to find relevant graduates and questions whether the current scholarship allocation reflects Fiji's labour market needs.
Chand says more scholarships should be deliberately directed towards technical and vocational education and training, particularly in areas where there are skills shortages.
He says there is currently more emphasis on higher studies than TVET, which he describes as a labour market mismatch.
Chand is calling on Government to explain the workforce analysis behind the changes, what assistance will be available to affected students and how students seeking qualifications unavailable in Fiji will be supported.
He says scholarship policy should balance Fiji's workforce requirements with the aspirations of young people and should not simply close doors.
Meanwhile, the Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Service (TSLS) had earlier confirmed to fijivillage News that there will be no Pilot Training intake under the scholarship next year.
TSLS says the decision follows the significant number of scholarships awarded in recent years, with 59 students currently on active scholarships and more than 70 private students undertaking pilot training.
It says this is considered sufficient to meet Fiji Airways’ projected pilot intake requirements over the next few years.
Finance Minister Esrom Immanuel says the number of places is determined by demand and consultation with airlines.
Immanuel says Government will assess the need for 2027 and could increase the number of places if there is still a need.
He says the remaining pilot training places are privately funded.
