The leader of Fiji's opposition Sodelpa Party says if elected to be the government next year, it will remove the tertiary loan scheme operated by the Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Board.
Fijian students at the Victoria University of Wellington conduct a sevusevu (Kava Ceremony) to start off Fiji Language Week. Photo: RNZI/ Koroi Hawkins
Sitiveni Rabuka told the website Fijivillage it would convert existing loans to scholarships and offer scholarships to all tertiary students who wish to study.
Mr Rabuka said a Sodelpa government would convert all existing loans to scholarships.
This meant they would not have to be repaid although students would be required to work in Fiji for the duration of their term of sponsorship.
Former Fiji prime minister and two-time coup leader Sitiveni Rabuka. Photo: AFP PHOTO / Torsten BLACKWOOD
Mr Rabuka said this change would be an extension of free education to tertiary institutions.
He said development was the duty of every government, and as Fiji progressed, more and more developments and benefits could be extended to the whole nation by successive governments.
