The Ministry of Education will defer the payment of the back-to-school assistance to prevent parents from misusing the funds during the festive season.
Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro said the change was necessary after repeated cases of the allowance being spent on non-school items before the start of the academic year.
“Na veivuke qo, e sa katolu se i ka va ni gauna e sa soli tiko mai kina, ni kemuni na raica, na gauna esa veisautaki mai,” he said, adding that the adjustment aims to ensure the assistance reaches its intended purpose.
Mr Radrodro said the funds would now be released closer to the start of the school year to help parents purchase actual school needs.
“Keda kila vinaka tiko e rawa beka ni na vakayagataki tale ena veika eso kevaka e soli tiko na i lavo ni sebera tiko na siga ni sucu kei na vakatawase,” he said.
He said the ministry had reviewed previous years and found that delaying the release would prevent unnecessary spending. “Qo sa kenai tekiteki ni kena vakavinaka taki tiko na vei malumalumu kece qo,” he said.
Mr Radrodro also raised concerns about businesses increasing the prices of school supplies during the Back-to-School period. He said the Fiji Competition and Consumer Commission would monitor retailers to prevent unfair price hikes.
“Ka rawa talega ni veivuke talega kina vakalevu na Matanitu na kena raici tiko vei ira na dau ni bisinisi me ra kakua ni vakasaulevu taka na yaya ni vuli, ena vaka vakacakacaka taki tiko o ratou na FCCC,” he said.
He reminded parents and guardians to use the assistance responsibly.
