The Ministry of Education, with the Ministry of Finance, is pleased to announce the rollout of the Back to School Support for the 2025 school year. This initiative aims to assist families with children enrolled in Early Childhood Education (ECE), primary, and secondary schools.
ELIGIBILITY AND SUPPORT DETAILS
Families earning a combined parental/guardian gross annual income of $50,000 or less will be eligible for this support. Each qualifying student will receive $200 to help cover school-related expenses. The program is open to students enrolled in government-funded public schools and private schools, provided they have a valid FEMIS ID.
Families with children in ECE to Year 13 who currently receive subsidised transportation assistance can fill out a simple manual application form starting from October 31, 2024. They will not need to verify their income. Families earning below $50,000 who do not receive transportation assistance can also apply using the same form but will need to verify their income through a Statutory Declaration.
Application forms will be available at all schools and can also be accessed from the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Finance websites. Heads of schools are responsible for ensuring correct information is provided and that the forms are submitted accurately.
APPLICATION PROCESS AND DEADLINES
Parents and guardians must complete one application form per eligible child. Forms should be submitted to the heads of schools by December 6, 2024, when all applications will close. Heads of schools will enter the data into the FEMIS system, ensuring all details are correct to avoid any issues with payment.
No manual applications will be accepted at the Ministry of Education headquarters, so all forms must be processed through FEMIS by the deadline.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS
• Only students enrolled from ECE to Year 13 for the 2025 school year are eligible for assistance.
• 2024 Year 13 students transitioning out of secondary school are not eligible for this support.
•Parents must ensure that the phone numbers provided in the application forms are correct and active, as errors could result in the loss of funds.
We believe that this support will help ease the financial burden on families and ensure that every student has the resources they need to succeed in the upcoming school year.
For more information, parents and guardians are encouraged to contact their child’s school or visit the Ministry of Education’s website, or send an email to; moe.backtoschool@gmail.com or femis.helpdesk@govnet.gov.fj.