EDUCATION received the largest single allocation in Fiji’s 2026-2027 National Budget, with $FJD883 million earmarked for schools, scholarships, and teacher salaries as the government shifts its focus from access to quality.
The Ministry of Education will receive $FJD708.3 million, including $FJD434 million for salaries and wages of more than 13,000 teachers. The Budget maintains key support programs, with $FJD61 million for the free education grant, $FJD54 million for transport assistance, and $FJD40 million for back-to-school assistance.
Finance Minister Esrom Immanuel told Parliament that after years of investing heavily in improving access, “the focus will now be on improving the quality of education, improving the employability of our graduates, meeting the skills needs of our country, and achieving value for money.”
The Budget provides $FJD160 million for tertiary scholarships, supporting 23,000 existing and new students. The government has written off more than $FJD650 million in student debt for over 53,000 students, replacing it with a full scholarship system tied to academic performance and national priority areas.
Immanuel announced several scholarship schemes will be modernized and rebranded to better align with national priorities, with greater support for students from rural, remote, and maritime communities, students with disabilities, and those pursuing technical and vocational qualifications.
A new post-graduate diploma scholarship scheme will support professional upskilling in priority sectors, while apprenticeship programs and technical skills training continue.
However, the Budget includes a notable change: no capital grants are provided to higher education institutions, with the government encouraging them to explore self-funding for capital projects.
Operating grants totaling $FJD74.5 million are allocated to higher education institutions based on recommendations of the Fiji Higher Education Commission.
The Education Ministry is also looking to improve accountability within the scholarship program, with recipients expected to maintain satisfactory academic performance and completion rates.
