Government schools have a strict enrolment process which is followed thoroughly to ensure there is no room for nepotism.
This was the response from Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro after Opposition MP Hem Chand questioned the criteria used in enrolling Year 9 students at all government schools around Fiji.
Radrodro mentioned that while interest in enrolling students in top Government secondary schools has always been high, they also consider other areas where students excel beyond just academic achievements.
“There are 11 Government secondary schools, and all these Government schools have collaboratively established a standard and transparent set of enrolment guidelines to ensure fairness and equity.
“It is important to understand that over the years, high-performing Government schools have always been sought after and amongst these are are:
(1) Natabua High School;
(2) Labasa College;
(3) Queen Victoria School (QVS);
(4) Ratu Kadavulevu School (RKS);
(5) Adi Cakobau School (ACS);
(6) Suva Grammar School;
(7) Nasinu Secondary;
(8) Sila Central High School;
(9) Vunisea Secondary School; and
(10) Bucalevu Secondary School.
“Usually, for those above-mentioned schools, the Heads of Schools follow the Government set enrolment criteria, but also look at other issues, like the quality of marks attained in the normal national examinations and determine these, along with other criteria that may include sports abilities and other leadership skills and attributes.”
Minister Radrodro said that most of the Government schools have a standard passing mark and school heads have stuck to it to ensure quality passing rate every year.
“A lot of Government schools, Mr. Speaker, Sir, set standards to ensure that high passing rates for their schools are not compromised and Government, being the controlling authority, expects a high performance from these respective schools whereby students, teachers and Heads of Schools, and with the reintroduction of Board of Governors, are closely observed to ensure maximum return of Government investments.”
