Great news for students as the Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Service announces support for postgraduate diploma studies locally and cost-sharing for overseas fees during the launch of TSLS Strategic Plan 2026 - 2031.
TSLS Chief Executive Dr Apisalome Movono says the postgraduate diploma local scheme will allow working Fijians to upgrade their qualifications through part-time studies.
Movono says applicants must be currently working, have at least two years of service and obtain approval from their supervisor to access the scholarships.
Insert: Movono on investments 29th Oct
He says the 2027 scholarship policies will also continue to provide support through the in-service public sector scheme, scholarships for students with special needs, national achievement scholarships and hardship assistance.
However, Movono says there will be a pause in pilot training and overseas intake, while other scholarship schemes will be expanded or revised.
He says the 2027 Scholarship Policies Handbook will be available online, with registrations opening on the TSLS website from the first of next month once the website is launched.
Meanwhile, Minister for Finance Esrom Immanuel says Government has invested approximately $1.418 billion in tertiary and vocational education since TSLS was established in 2014.
Immanuel says this includes $843 million in tuition payments and almost $575 million in student allowances.
Immanuel says more than 33,000 students have received scholarships since 2023, accounting for over one-third of all awards made since TSLS began operations.
However, he says a Cabinet report identified 33,070 scholarship recipients who did not complete their studies or whose awards were terminated.
He says 90,131 students have received support through Government scholarship schemes, with 33,546 having graduated, 839 having completed their studies and awaiting graduation, and 22,676 remaining active under their scholarship arrangements.
Based on the assumptions in the report, Immanuel says the estimated public investment associated with these non-completions is approximately $235 million.
He says success must be measured not only by the number of scholarships awarded, but also by the number of students who complete their studies, enter productive employment and contribute to the economy.
Immanuel also says TSLS began digitising more than 60,000 historical scholarship files in June this year, with some records dating back to the 1980s.
He says cooperation with the Fiji National Provident Fund has helped TSLS identify the employment status of graduates.
Of the 7,528 graduates examined over the past three years, Immanuel says 3,540 were identified as employed, 1,323 had FNPF records but were not recorded as currently employed, while no employment records were identified for 2,665.
Immanuel says the TSLS Strategic Plan 2026 - 2031 must strengthen student success, financial sustainability and accountability, digital transformation and institutional performance.
He says these priorities must be translated into measurable targets, with regular reporting to assess progress and ensure Government's investment in education delivers better outcomes for students and the country.
