University graduates in small nations like Fiji will face problems finding jobs because of the impact of COVID-19, says University of Fiji acting vice-chancellor Prof Shaista Shameem.
She made this statement during a careers workshop organised by the university in Suva last weekend.
The workshop aimed to provide information for secondary school students about programs available for teachers and principals at the university within the limitations of COVID-19.
She said the pandemic had placed huge restrictions on the ability of secondary school teachers to properly advise their students about what the future had for them.
Prof Shameem said industries across the world faced serious repercussions from a contracting global economy.
“Thus the University of Fiji was obliged, and indeed had a duty, to inform high school students who would normally have contemplated a university education and made their own career choices to consider the range of options that it was now able to provide in the current uncertain climate,” Prof Shameem said.
Prof Shameem said the university programs were fully recognised under the Fiji higher education framework.
University registrar Karishma Mani said the university played a vital role in carving career pathways for students, hence the workshop was organised as a medium to provide relevant information to teachers to guide students to make properly informed choices.
About 115,000 people — most of them breadwinners — lost their jobs in tourism and related industries.
As of September 16, FNPF paid out $105 million in relief payments, with $73.5 million paid by FNPF and Government’s top-up totalling $27 million.
In May, Commerce Minister Faiyaz Koya said about 500 businesses had said they could become bankrupt if the COVID-19 crisis continued for another six months.
He said the figure was the result of a business survey conducted in partnership with International Finance Corporation.
