UP TO 5000 Fiji National University(FNU) students were forced to drop out of their studies because they could not afford to pay their university fees.
Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba said FNU is facing a $10million annual student debt crisis.
Prof Nabobo-Baba said most of the outstanding debt was owed by private students.
“This is what was known in higher education as attrition,” she said.
She said the financial crisis affecting students went beyond unpaid fees, with about 10,000 students also going hungry because they could not afford basic food.
“When they are hungry, they can’t finish their studies and can’t come to school.”
She said students who struggled to afford food also faced difficulties meeting other essential costs, including transportation to and from classes. “If somebody is hungry, they can’t buy their basic food. They can’t catch the bus.”
She said the situation showed the need to support students not only to enter university but to complete their studies.
Prof Nabobo-Baba said the FNU Foundation was established through the support and generosity of individuals and organisations to help address the financial challenges faced by students.
“It helps address a gap in society and works towards creating a more equal playing field in education.”
She said education was a powerful tool for a developing country and students needed support to remain in education, complete their qualifications and succeed.
The Foundation, she said, was part of efforts to ensure financial hardship did not become a barrier for students seeking to build a better future through education.
