The Ministry of Education has been allocated a total budget of $675.4 million, an increase of $24.9 million from the 2024-2025 budget.
Starting the financial year, the free education grant of $65.1 million will become fully flexible.
The current rigid rule that limits expenses will be removed, allowing the school management to have full autonomy to determine how best to utilise the grant to meet their specific needs.
The current restriction that limits school fundraising to once per year will also be removed. Fundraising activities will be open, voluntary, and flexible for all students.
Recognising the foundational importance of Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Fiji, the Government will fund ECE teachers on a full-time basis. The appointment of ECE teachers will now be regularised to place them on equal footing with other teaching staff.
In addition, a sum of $153 million has been allocated to Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Services (TSLS) for numerous scholarship schemes and training.
This fund is to cater for 24,653 students, of which 11,593 are continuing students and 13,060 are new.
The government has also introduced a new minimum cut-off mark in year 13 for all degree programs in rural and maritime school zones. The cut-off mark has been reduced to 240 out of 400.
An increase in TVET scholarships from 2,780 to 4,500 has also been announced and will be expanded to students with special needs.
The Micro Qualification Grant which targets early school dropouts, unemployed youths, and adults with micro-credentials following 1 to 3 months of competency-based training will be expanded to new areas and will also be increased to 3000 awards.
For the first time, the government will also provide a grant of $500,000 to the School Management Association of Fiji to support leadership training and capacity development for school managers. The Principals’ Association and the Head Teachers’ Association have also been allocated $300,000 each.