Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and former military officer Filipo Tarakinikini has strongly defended the country’s school cadet system, arguing that its removal would weaken national unity and character development among young people.
Addressing calls to abolish the cadet programme, Tarakinikini posed a direct challenge to critics, asking what alternative system would replace its role in shaping discipline, service and equal opportunity.
“The question for those who would abolish it is simple: What will you replace it with?” he said.
“What institution will teach discipline to every child, regardless of family background? What program will give all students equal opportunity to discover their strengths and their role in the community?”
He warned that relying solely on academic education would come at a cost. “If the answer is ‘nothing’ — if academic education alone is deemed sufficient — then we are preparing not for Fiji’s success, but for its fragmentation,” Tarakinikini said.
Responding to concerns about how the cadet system is implemented, he said shortcomings should be addressed through improvement rather than abandonment.
“When did ‘this isn’t working well enough’ become an excuse to stop trying rather than a call to do better?” he asked.
Tarakinikini stressed that the purpose of the cadet system remains vital, even if delivery needs strengthening.
“The purpose is vital. The method can work. But only if we invest in making it work properly,” he said.
He emphasised that the programme is not about militarising students, but about citizenship and nation-building.
“We owe our young people a quality foundation for life — not because we want to create soldiers, but because we need to create citizens,” he said.
“This is about nation-building through character development,” Tarakinikini added, calling for the cadet system to be properly resourced, competently delivered and genuinely effective.
“The real question is: are we willing to invest what’s required to make it work, or will we abandon it because we failed to do so?” he said.
