THE $10million increase in the $32m allocation for Early Childhood Education (ECE) aims to ensure 1432 ECE teachers are able to support more than 18,000 children in pre-primary education, says Education Minister Aseri Radrodro.
Opening the 47th Fiji Early Childhood Teachers Association (FECTA) conference in Ra this week, he said ECE teachers had an important role to play in shaping the country’s childhood education through the Na Noda Mataniciva program.
“First developed 17 years ago, the curriculum is now being updated with UNICEF support to include early literacy and early numeracy, ensuring it meets the needs of today’s children and teachers,” read a government statement.
“Na Noda Mataniciva continues to guide ECE teaching in Fiji and has influenced early learning across the Pacific.”
The statement stated the Coalition Government had increased its commitment to early childhood education with a $32m budget allocation this year, a $10m increase from the previous year. This ensures 1423 teachers across 873 centres are now full-time staff, supporting over 18,000 children in pre-primary education.
“The rollout of full-day pre-primary programs began on August 1, 2025, in all ministry-registered centres, providing more structured learning opportunities while supporting parents and communities.”
Mr Radrodro highlighted the importance of professionalism and accountability among early childhood teachers, noting that their work built the foundation for Fiji’s future generations.
“Heads of schools were reminded of their role in providing strong supervision and support.”
The conference was held at Penang Sangam High School.