TVET, the answer to the skilled labour shortage

The annual National TVET Forum, scheduled to take place tomorrow, is one not to be missed as Fiji faces an ongoing skilled labour shortage. The forum aims to address the skills gap in the Fijian market and productivity levels in the workplace. Post COVID-19 in Fiji, there has been a mass migration of skilled workers to labour markets particularly in Australia and New Zealand in the areas of hospitality and tourism, heavy goods drivers, caregivers, medical personnel, amongst others. As highlighted in Parliament, during the last five to six years the number of TVET graduates have declined consistently in Fiji:

2010 - 2935 graduates,

2011 - 3020 graduates,

2012 – 2574 graduates, 2013 - 3076 graduates,

2014 – 1747 graduates, 2016 – 1514 graduates, 2018 – 996 graduates,

2019 - 1019 graduates, and 2020 – 1316 graduates.

The declining trend is despite the funding of 5000 TVET scholarships and allocation of Government grants to FNU since 2013;

2013 - $28 million,

2016 - $42 million,

2018 and 2019 - $84 million,

2021 and 2022 - $44 million, and 2022 and 2023 - $45 million.

The coalition Government has made a commitment to address the labour shortage and it is starting with reforming TVET in the hope of enabling more technically skilled people in the future.

Minister for Public Works, Ro Filipe Tuisawau, said given the skills shortage and the movement of skilled workers out of Fiji, there is a need to incorporate the strategic planning at FNU with a national human resource plan which should cover the human resource needs of the nation.

TVET Pro-Chancellor Dr Isimeli Tagicakiverata said there needs to be a shift in the attitude and mindset of people in regards to TVET.

“The problem with us in Fiji is that sometimes we carry the aspirations of our parents,” he said, adding that most people wanted their children to be doctors and lawyers instead of going into vocational studies. Industry stakeholders who attend the forum should discuss lessons learnt and takeaways from the forum at the upcoming National Economic Summit.

Just as Dr Tagicakiverata hopes, there should be more investment in TVET scholarships and reversal of the employment levy to fund in-service trainings. In addition in a bid to fill the labour market shortage, the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation aims to graduate social welfare recipients out of the programme by educating them in TVET programmes.

The skills gap is a national issue that needs a whole of government approach.

fonua.talei@fijisun.com.fj

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