Education to be ‘nation directed’
EDUCATION should not be “industry directed” but “nation directed”, says University of Fiji vice-chancellor Professor Shaista Shameem.
The renowned lawyer shared this as the nation goes through its transition leadership period with the recent election of the coalition government into power.
“That means creating knowledge-based society without barriers,” Prof Shameem said.
“What has happened in the recent past is that our young people have been driven exclusively into skill-based programs rather than what the interest of the students might be to follow their own chosen career path. “Similarly, COVID showed us that pursuing a single minded viewpoint towards support for a particular industry rather than diversifying was a huge mistake. It shortchanged our young people and may have caused a lot of generational damage.”
Prof Shameem said the newly-elected Education Minister Aseri Radrodro was a smart man and would also need to work closely with stakeholders because there was a need to review the country’s education system.
The university professor said intelligent and meaningful consultation with those delivering education, especially higher education was vital and “not just lip service”.
“There is a need to ensure the fair distribution of education funding by the government and rightsizing all the statutory authorities responsible for education so that they have highly educated and imaginative/creative educational professionals in place who have a deepseated understanding of our societies and the aims and ambitions of young people and adults alike,” she said.
“There is also a need to consider education as a top priority portfolio as enlightened education will lead to economic growth and public good.”
Prof Shameem has also called on the minister to hold an educational roundtable.