Lack of suitable courses

THERE is a lack of suitable tertiary courses for career developments in the North to boost the division’s agriculture dependent economy.

Employers in the division have liaised with tertiary institutions on the need to have these suitable courses in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries divisions for career opportunities to boost the economy.

Fiji National University Labasa campus head Pardeep Lal said they had received feedback from employers who had made such requests.

In an interview yesterday, Mr Lal said they had been informed by employers on the need to have agriculture courses as the North depended on this sector for economic growth including sugar.

Another area, he said employers had requested for was the hotel and catering courses.

“So from next year, the FNU campus in Labasa will offer certificate three and certificate four in agriculture engineering and this is the result of liaising with stakeholders,” Mr Lal said.

“We want to bring in more agriculture, fisheries and forestrybased programs and this is what stakeholders in Labasa want and we know that it’s the intention of the Government, for which we are very grateful.

“The economy in this division is agriculture driven and we are glad that our school heads have also approved of introducing agriculture courses.”

Mr Lal said stakeholders of the hospitality and tourism sector had also requested for courses that would teach and qualify students in these areas.

“It’s important and instead of sending students to Viti Levu to get these qualifications, we should keep them here and qualify them this side so they can contribute to the tourism sector.

“These are positive feedbacks we receive from stakeholders when our students do attachment work with them.

“So we are also working with relevant authorities and by February next year, we will have our students attending the newlyconstructed campus.”