Parents and guardians have been granted an additional week to submit back-to-school assistance forms for their children, following an announcement by the Fijian Government.
The application process, which began on October 31 and was originally set to close today, will now remain open until Friday, December 13.
In a statement, the government urged eligible families to take advantage of the extended timeframe.
“We encourage all eligible parents and guardians to complete the application forms and submit them to the respective schools, if this has not been done yet,” the statement read.
Introduced in 2023, the back-to-school assistance program supports families earning $50,000 or less annually to prepare for the academic year.
Eligibility
Each qualifying student will receive $200 to help cover school-related expenses. The program is open to students enrolled in government-funded public schools and private schools, provided they have a valid FEMIS ID.
Families with children in ECE to Year 13 who currently receive subsidised transportation assistance can fill out a simple manual application form. They will not need to verify their income. Families earning below $50,000 who do not receive transportation assistance can also apply using the same form but will need to verify their income through a Statutory Declaration.
Application forms are available at all schools and can also be accessed from the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Finance websites. Heads of Schools are responsible for ensuring the correct information is provided and that the forms are submitted accurately.
Application Process And Guidelines
Parents and guardians must complete one application form per eligible child. Forms should be submitted to the Heads of Schools who will then enter the data into the FEMIS system, ensuring all details are correct to avoid any issues with payment.
•Parents must ensure that the phone numbers provided in the application forms are correct and active, as errors could result in the loss of funds.
