TELS Will Be Removed, Multi-Ethnic Scheme Could Come Back: Rabuka
The People’s Alliance leader explained why he intended to remove the Tertiary Education Loans Scheme and could be replaced with the old multi-ethnic scheme.
During a joint rally with the National Federation Party at Labasa Civic Centre yesterday, Mr Rabuka said ethnic scholarships was a way to remove disparity.
Mr Rabuka was asked whether his party would do away with the current scholarship scheme and reintroduce the multi-ethnic based scholarship system.
“It could be, depending on whether we can get back into the ethnic data basing,” he said.
“The need to do that is a reality in modern society and only then can you target your policy.
“We have to do this so that we have toppers on Government scholarship and we also catch up on those who don’t make it to that level, maybe not score that high,” Mr Rabuka said.
“They can meet the needs of the labour force, those who can go to technical and vocational areas of education.
Students would be awarded scholarships based on the criteria provided and those who do not meet the criteria are expected to fund their education privately.
He also told supporters that their party would forgive TELS student debt.
“We will forgive your debt but you have to work in Fiji for three to four years so that we can get your repayment in service, not in money, so that you can serve Fiji before planning to go overseas or do whatever you want,” he said. “Free education will continue and more assistance will be given.” which was 22,833. The voter turnout in the North was 67,755.
His latest rally in the North indicates that he could repeat the same performance but he faces strong challenge from The People’s Alliance leader, Sitiveni Rabuka, and the Social Democratic Liberal Party
The battle is now wide open after Mosese Bulitavu, who was one of SODELPA’s strong candidate in the last election, joined the FijiFirst, and PA selected Isireli Leweniqila instead of Samuela Ligairi.
The battle is now wide open after Mosese Bulitavu, who was one of SODELPA’s strong candidate in the last election, joined the FijiFirst, and PA selected Isireli Leweniqila instead of Samuela Ligairi.
In the last election, Mr Rabuka, who had previously contested under the SODELPA banner, received 9642 votes from the North.
National Federation Party leader Biman Prasad who was raised in Dreketi in Macuata, received 1355 while Mr Bulitavu bagged 4909 votes.
Meanwhile, as of October 31, 2022 the total number of registered voters in Fiji stood at 693,915.
There are 297,649 registered voters in the Central Division, 260,801 in the West, 26,359 in the East and 9448 overseas voters.