Stakeholders in provincial councils across the country are vital players in addressing the skills shortage in the country.
This was the crux of the message delivered by Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro while opening a consultation session in Suva yesterday.
Organised by the Higher Education Commission Fiji, the event brought together representatives from provincial councils and other stakeholders to discuss this issue.
Mr Radrodro said the exchange of ideas signified the commitment to address the pressing issue of skilled labour exodus, while advancing solutions to training of the community.
He stated the labour shortages were happening in villages, tikina and at a provincial level.
“Our people are leaving for a variety of reasons, including higher wages, better career opportunities, better working conditions and a perceived lack of opportunities right here in Fiji,” Mr Radrodro said.
“While we cannot completely halt the movement of people seeking better prospects abroad, we can indeed address it proactively.
“Recognising that we may not always compete on salary packages offered overseas, we must focus on an alternative approach that can balance it and contribute to the talent pool.”
Mr Radrodro also acknowledged that the ministry played a crucial role in addressing this issue and said technical and vocational education and training (TVET) was a key focus for the Government.
