STUDENTS in Lautoka and Suva are not legally required to attend school under the current compulsory education laws enacted 28 years ago.
The revelation was made during a presentation last week at an internal stakeholders workshop on the Review and Reform of the Education Act of 1966.
According to the presentation, the compulsory education regulations were limited in their application.
Under the Compulsory Education Regulation 1997, 1998 and 1999, only seven out of Fiji’s nine education districts were covered by compulsory education laws — Lautoka and Suva were not included in the original orders issued under Section 28 of the Act.
Section 28(1) of the Education Act states: “The minister may, with the consent of Parliament, by order, specify any area or areas of Fiji in which all children of such age or ages as may be specified in such order shall be required to attend a school.”
This clause allows for compulsory education to be implemented selectively rather than imposed nationwide.
In response to the revelation, Education Minister Aseri Radrodro acknowledged the issue and noted the need for a comprehensive review of the Act.
“I have not had the opportunity to look into those issues, especially for the two districts,” Mr Radrodro said.
“It needs a lot of review. “But I think, that the intent of the Act at the time, in 1966, promoting education as a platform for the people of Fiji, it has evolved.”
Mr Radrodro pointed out the evolving nature of the education system that currently involves more than 200,000 active students, and highlighted ongoing efforts such as the TVET and Matua programs which are aimed at re-engaging students.
He said discussions were ongoing regarding the empowering of education officials to improve student attendance and reduce the school dropout rate.
“It needs a lot of research to see that the responsibility of educating a child rests with their parents.
“This is something that we would like to review.
“Maybe it’s time to empower the Ministry of Education and its officials through the heads of school, through the teachers, to ensure we’re empowered to get the students to school, rather than currently where we’re only empowered within the school vicinity.”
The workshop brought together teachers, ministry officials and education stakeholders to identify gaps and outdated provisions in the existing Education Act.
