Around 7000 Fijian Year 13 students from 169 schools nationwide will be provided monthly data bundles from October 1, 2021, to allow them access to educational materials online during this medical crisis.
The rollout of the $20 top-up begins from October 1, and will be in place until January 31, 2022.
Fiji’s telecommunications giant ATH –the parent company for Vodafone Fiji and Telecom Fiji Limited (TFL), and Digicel have partnered with the Government for this initiativethat was announced in the 2021-2022 National Budget.
According to the Government, the Ministry of Economy had worked in conjunction with the Ministry of Education and respective schools to obtain student information, including the preferred mode of data access, and details on the internet service provider.
It said the Ministry of Economy would now provide those details to the three service providers that would provide the data top-up to those students on either their mobile phones, internet modems, or pocket wi-fi.
Students can expect their first $20 top-up by October 1.
“We have noted students who do not have mobile phones have provided either their parents, siblings, or guardians’ phone numbers. Since the data will be provided on their devices, we urge all parents/guardians to please use this data for their children’s educational purposes and not for personal consumption,” the Government stated.
“Although the data provided has no usage restrictions, we call upon the parents and students do not to misuse the data by streaming entertainment videos or playing online games and other non-educational purposes.
“We trust that you all will support the Fijian Government in ensuring that we achieve the intended outcome of this initiative.”
The Government is now working with the service providers to roll out the same for university students soon.
