ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR FINANCE HON. ESROM IMMANUEL'S ADDRESS AT THE PRESENTATION ON FINDINGS OF SCHOLARSHIP PRIORITY AREAS AND HANDING OVER OF THE HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN

The Board Chairperson of Tertiary Scholarships & Loans Service, Gone Marama Bale na Roko Tui Dreketi – Ro Teimumu Kepa,
The Members and the representatives of the Oversight Committee
The lead Reviewer & International Consultant, Professor Hitendra Pillay from Queensland University of Technology
The CEO of Tertiary Scholarships & Loans Service, Dr. Hasmukh Lal
Mr. Kamal Gounder - Head Strategic Planning Office
Invited Guests from Ministry of Finance, Management and Staff of TSLS

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Board and the Management of Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Service for conducting this National Review on Priority Areas for Scholarships and coming up with a Human Capital Development Plan for the country,
 
The Plan is timely when it is most needed by government for,
-As part of national planning,
-For mitigation on the migration of skilled workers.
-for reviewing policies for scholarship investments
-for developing new policies for emerging and new skills demand.
 
We may have heard from different Ministers and Industry Leaders on the current skill shortage in Fiji, however this is not only in Fiji, it is a global issue due to the resurgence in economic activities worldwide after Covid-19 closures and restrictions were opened. Hence, I will repeat again;
-We all need to collectively think and take appropriate action to maintain our skilled labour force.
-we have to continue to train our people continuously every year on a ‘’Tractor’’ basis. That is to churn out graduates on a regular basis.
 
This report provides a review of the Fijian workforce context and an assessment of the demand for and supply of well-prepared employees to support the national economic development. It also notes some critical actions to improve the planning and supply of the required workforce.
 
I wish to thank TSLS for coordinating the national task given to them through the revised 2021/2022 National Budget as this report is of national interest and a proactive step.
 
The findings presented to the Government by Professor Hitendra Pillay, are unequivocal that tertiary providers need to deliver quality demand driven programs. The supply driven model has not helped the country where the demand is for more vocational graduates than the degree holders. It is evident from the report based on the data provided by the Bureau of Statistics where 65% of workers in the country are wage earners which is denoted with TVET type of qualifications. One can vouch that the remaining 35% of the workers who are on salary may also form certain percentage of TVET graduates.

Such data and evidence gained through structured review and consultation is very essential for strategic planning purpose. And I noted the need for Data and quality one for that matter and that is one issue that was raised by the expert and will continue to request FBOS for the same as he said.
 
-The first lesson learned from this work was the scarcity of organisational and institutional data on human resource profiles.
-To help increase access to this data, a culture of sharing information to improve the national human capital development system should be prioritised.
 
I thank the expert who has done similar assignments in other countries for taking up the review for the priority areas on scholarships. As a Fiji born, Professor Pillay, understood the context, sensitivity, and dynamics of the labor market in the country. Hence, his selection to do the work gives another level authentication and validation.
 
As stated above, the report is timely
-as this week the CEO of the Higher Education Commission was commenting on the same issues that we are trying to resolve ie. the imbalance between the influx oif Higher Education graduates into the Job market and the demands both from the private and public sector.
-And currently there is a career expo for high school students and the report will assist students,parents and teachers to direct their study and career towards demand.
 
The Fiji Government will publicise this report and strongly encourages stakeholders in tertiary education stakeholders and policy makers in human capital development to use it as a guide.  And I would like to mention a few important points raised by the expert;
 
-The Fijian economy is small and not heavily industrialised thus does limited if any, blue-sky research.
-Apart from the realignment of HCD investments, there is a need to ‘revitalise’ the TVET sector, as traditional institutions involved in this sector (apprenticeship and advanced technician level programs) have been mostly dismantled and finances redirected
-Cognisant of the urgency of demand for a skilled workforce, an immediate response is required.
-Relevance and quality of human capital development programs should suit the demands of the Fijian economy and the Fijian industries, and the programs should be modernised by adopting increased information and digital technology (IDT) applications.
-Government support for human capital development should primarily respond to national demands and the local economy, rather than to global workforce supply.
-The efficiency of HCD investments needs improvement, the high attrition rates seen in both scholarships and tertiary loans schemes need to be reduced.
 
I wish to also thank the work of the oversight committee under the Chair of Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Civil Service, with membership of Permanent Secretary of Employment, Industrial Relations & Productivity and Chief Executive Officer of Fiji Commerce & Employers Federation.They gave independence to the report by providing oversight.
 
And once again thank Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Service its Board and Management for conducting this national review and producing a way forward plan on scholarships.
 
Thank You, Vinaka Vakalevu,Dhanyawaad.God bless all of you and God Bless Fiji.