‘Free education vital’

PROVIDING free education on a sustainable basis to everyone at present and in the future is critically important, says Economy Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

Speaking at the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) public lecture on “Knowledge

Economy-led Growth” on Monday, he said every child in Fiji needed to have access to education, irrespective of their parents’ income.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said it was a challenge Government had taken on and was focused on delivering with a long-term view.

He said 70 per cent of the Fijian population was below the age of 40 and there was a whole stream of young people that needed to come through the education system.

“So how do we on a sustainable basis, be able to provide free education to all of these young Fijians currently and in the future — that’s critically important.

“It’s one thing to make education free, but if people cannot afford to get to schools, then that’s another problem in itself.

“It’s one thing to make education free, but if people cannot afford to get access to free textbooks, it’s another element of it too.”

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said it was important to consider every single Fijian whenever there were discussions about a knowledgebased economy.

“This is why governments need to spend money, not just on internet connectivity, because for internet connectivity to be sustainable, we need people to have access to electricity, need people have access to water.

“These are the building blocks of infrastructure that provide the fundamental basis of creating a knowledge-based society.”