The Ministry of Education, Heritage and Arts facilitated an Industry Stakeholder–Training Provider Consultation Forum in Suva this week.
This was one of the first forum consultations that has been organised by the Ministry to receive frank and open feedback towards strengthening Fiji’s education sector.
“The Ministry of Education has a dream which is to deliver quality education for the betterment of this country and people thus the vision, ‘Quality Education for Change, Peace and Progress’. To have such an empowering education system your contribution today will add to peaceful and sustainable national development” said the Ministry’s Acting permanent secretary Basundra Kumar in her opening remarks at the forum.
“Through this consultation process we will review and implement a progressive and responsive curriculum which will align competent students into demanding career paths”, added Mrs. Kumar.
The University of the South Pacific vice-chancellor Professor Rajesh Chandra, said that such forums provided a platform to validate the nature of Education System in Fiji, to be relevant, responsive and of high quality.
The key topics that have so far garnered the most response and attention during the consultation forum were the attitude, punctuality and productivity of workers towards their job.
While the need for recognition of blue collar jobs is essential, the development of technical expertise at certificate level courses and availability of scholarship for renewable energy courses is critical.
Other recommendations that had dominated the discussion at the forum was the need to set up a Productivity Commission, Industrial Association, and Advisory body with the Ministry of Education, Heritage and Arts.
The feedback provided by the forty-seven present training providers and stakeholders was the immediate need to set up a National Research Council for reliable data that will enable the respective sections undergoing consultation to formulate innovative ideas that would impinge and impact the Education Sector.