A call has been made for the Government to review its free education assistance program, amid growing concerns that financial aid alone is not enough to lift struggling families out of hardship.
Leading the call is Foundation for the Education of the Needy Children in Fiji, executive co-ordinator, Nirmala Nambiar.
While the Government’s assistance helped many families, she said, the reality on the ground showed a much deeper struggle that money alone could not fix.
“As an NGO, I do believe it needs to be reviewed,” she said.
Ms Nambiar said many families were buckling under the weight of rising living costs, with parents struggling to make ends meet and manage what little they had.
“Many parents struggle with money management and cannot cover basic living expenses. With high costs of living, families with multiple children often cannot put food on the table,” she said.
She said her team often met single mothers who were trying to care for several children on their own, with little or no support from the fathers.
“We frequently encounter single mothers caring for five children without support from the father. It is incredibly challenging.”
She was responding to earlier comments made by the Sugar Minister, Charan Jeath Singh, who said too many children still face barriers despite free education assistance being provided.
Mr Singh said many children in Fiji still face significant barriers to education, whether due to economic challenges, health issues or lack of resources.
