A CALL was made yesterday for Government to “immediately review” the Apprenticeship Scheme.
Hasmuk Lal, the former chief executive of the Tertiary Scholarship and Loans Service (TSLS) and Group CEO for Oceania Education & Technology Solutions, said at the launch of the Oceania Institute of Technology in Nadi that the previous administration was wrong to merge TPAF with FNU.
“As an investor in tertiary education, I urge the Government to immediately review the Apprenticeship Scheme,” he said.
“It is a stapled function to 1 per cent employer levy.
“There has been on going conundrum and ruckus on the operational grant model.”
Mr Lal said Government should review and strengthen the Higher Education Commission of Fiji Act by provisioning a Tertiary Teaching Grants Committee.
“This will be the technical committee with relevant expertise to provide recommendation to the Commission and the Government,” he added.
“Where Government had a role to establish institutions, it is obligated to provide operating grants, and such institutions should get base amounts as decided on an annual basis.
“Then there should be an allocation open to public and private providers on competitive bidding based on graduate employment outcomes and innovations to meet the future needs.”
He said the technical committee will evaluate the bids and make recommendations to the Commission and the Government.
“This systematic process using technical expertise will solve public concerns, chuckles and bring about transparency and taxpayer confidence.
“Cabinet approved establishment of Fiji National Research Council last year.
“The research grant for research active universities should be channelled through this established council.”
