fiji

Fiji (population: 889,953 in 2019) has a primary net enrolment rate of 96.8% (2016)¹ and a secondary school completion rate of 84.5% (2012)¹. The youth unemployment rates (15-24 years old) is 18.2 % (2015)². The main campuses of the regional University of the South Pacific (USP) and Fiji National University (FNU) are in Suva. Both provide technical and teacher education, and support public efforts to increase access to affordable and relevant tertiary educational services within the region. USP hosts the Pacific Centre for Flexible and Open Learning for Development (PACFOLD).  

Internet connectivity is available to 50% (2017)³ of the population, and mobile-cellular subscriptions are at 118 (2017)³ per 100 people. Infrastructure is available for distance and technology-enabled learning and for expanding access to education and training in Fiji. The Ministry of Economy’s 5-Year & 20-Year National Development Plan includes goals to improve telecommunications infrastructure, provide equal access to ICT and expand their digital literacy programme to the entire education system. The Ministry of Education, Heritage and Arts Strategic Plan 2019–2023 priorities include embracing digital learning and improving digital literacy. For more information, read COL Country Report: Fiji 2015-2021. 

1. UNESCO Institute for Statistics Data Centre, retrieved in June 2021
2. ILO. 2017. Improving Labour Market Outcomes in the Pacific: Policy Challenges and Priorities, pp. 40
3. International Telecommunication Union (ITU) ICT Eye Country profile, retrieved in March 2020