REFORMS to strengthen Fiji’s technical workforce in meteorological services need to begin at the primary school level, with greater emphasis on basic numeracy, science and language skills.
Minister for Meteorological Services, Public Works and Transport Ro Filipe Tuisawau said this yesterday noting the need for more qualified and technical people in meteorological and satellite-based services, as it remains a key challenge, with capacity building identified as an important part of developing the sector.
Speaking after the fourth Pacific Meteorological Ministers Meeting in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, Ro Filipe said Fiji, like other technical fields, already had experienced and skilled people, but needed to develop a stronger pipeline of workers to sustain these services.
He said human resource planning needed to be better co-ordinated between the Public Service Commission and tertiary institutions, while more school leavers should be encouraged to pursue science, mathematics and technology-related fields.
Ro Filipe said this process needed to start much earlier in a child’s education.
“During the meeting as discussed, whether it’s MET services or satellite-based type of information, this needs qualified people, technical people, which is why in one of the programs being discussed, capacity building,” he said.
He said students who developed strong scientific and numeracy foundations at primary school were more likely to pursue technical subjects at secondary school.
“The focus on science, mathematics and technology needs to be supported by strong basic literacy and numeracy.”
Ro Filipe said capacity building would remain critical as meteorological services increasingly relied on specialised technical expertise and satellite-based information.
