Review of technical colleges crucial for both students, staff

The review of technical colleges is being watched anxiously by 1504 students and 243 lecturers and auxiliary staff. For the students it means their future is on hold. For lecturers their jobs and livelihoods are on the line. Acting Vice-Chancellor of the Fiji National University Dr William May says the review would give FNU a clearer picture of what needs to be done in the operation of technical colleges.

329 lecturers and staff were served with termination notices and their final day was December 31.

But since then 76 lecturers and staff have so far been recalled to do marketing.

It has raised hopes that classes will resume as usual after the review.

But Dr May says the consultation and review process will continue for a few weeks before a report is submitted for deliberations and discussions.

After that the FNU will release a statement on the future of technical colleges.

The crux of Dr May’s statement lies in his closing remark.

He says he would like to reiterate that for any successful organisation that is intending to acquire an existing entity, a fundamental component of business operation is to undertake an extensive due diligence process to weigh the benefits and risks before making a final business decision whether to continue as is or remodel to suit the evolving industry needs. It clarifies the whole purpose of this exercise and it makes sense.

An integral part of this move no doubt includes a cost analysis and the outcomes.

The bottom line will be whether the outcomes justify the cost.

The outcomes have a human cost too. Many of the students and their parents see the technical colleges as their hope for the future.

Most come from low socio-economic backgrounds. They represent students who could not qualify for higher academic learning but have talents for a technical and vocational career like Jai Chand.

He went through technical college and taught at one in Navua.

Now the motor vehicle mechanic plans to start his own business. He is a success story of technical colleges and there are others out there like him.

It was for this reason that technical colleges were originally set up by the Ministry of Education before they came under the FNU.

It would be a tragedy if FNU closes all technical colleges.

The best it could do is to tighten the operation and merge some centres to save cost, achieve efficiency and produce the desired outcomes.

The colleges are too valuable to lose.