The Government’s ambitious education reform agenda has drawn scrutiny from the Opposition, with concerns raised over persistent teacher shortages, delayed allowances, and unequal access to resources in rural schools.

In Parliament on Monday, Education Minister Aseri Radrodro delivered a ministerial statement outlining major reforms currently underway in the sector, including the revival of the National Research Council, the establishment of the Fiji Education Commission, a review of the National Curriculum Framework, and the relaunch of the Higher Education Commission Fiji Vice Chancellors’ Forum.

Mr. Radrodro described the reforms as a “synchronised, unprecedented effort” aimed at building a modern, inclusive, and future-focused education system.

Among the key initiatives highlighted was the review of the 2013 National Curriculum Framework, which the Minister said was now outdated and needed to better reflect modern learning demands.

The review will look at integrating technical and vocational education, entrepreneurship, digital learning, artificial intelligence, cultural preservation, and bilingual education into Fiji’s schooling system.

Mr. Radrodro also said the Fiji Education Commission, established in July last year, was conducting the first comprehensive review of Fiji’s education system since 2000.

“The Commission remains on track to deliver its Final Report to my Office by the end of July this year, providing Government and all stakeholders with evidence-based strategic recommendations for transforming Fiji’s education system,” he said.

The Minister also stressed the importance of research and higher education partnerships, saying the re-established National Research Council would strengthen evidence-based policymaking and support universities in improving global rankings and attracting international grants.

However, Opposition MP Hem Chand argued that while the reforms sounded promising, the Government must first address long-standing issues affecting teachers and schools on the ground.

Mr. Chand said Fiji continued to face serious teacher shortages in key subject areas, particularly in rural, remote, and maritime schools.

“Some rural schools lack teachers for subjects such as physics and mathematics. This creates inequality in educational opportunities between urban and rural students,” he said.

“A child’s future should not depend on whether they live in Suva or in a remote, maritime, or interior community.”

The Opposition MP also raised concerns over teacher salaries, welfare, and incentives, saying many educators were leaving Fiji for better-paying opportunities overseas.

“Low pay affects morale, retention, and the quality of education delivered in classrooms,” he said.

Mr. Chand said countries such as Finland and Singapore had shown that meaningful education reform depended heavily on teacher welfare and support systems.

He further pointed to ongoing ICT and infrastructure challenges in schools, especially in rural areas, where some students still had limited access to computers, reliable electricity, internet connectivity, and ICT training.

“We cannot speak about modernising education while many classrooms still lack the basic tools necessary for effective teaching and learning,” he said.

Mr. Chand also called for teacher allowances to be paid on time, claiming some educators experienced delays in receiving payments last year.

“If the Government truly wants meaningful reform, then priority must be given to improving teacher retention, increasing salaries and rural incentives, filling vacancies, strengthening teacher training and mentoring, and ensuring schools are properly resourced,” he added.