Fiji, through the Ministry of Youth and Sports, was granted a three-year full licence to manage the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Awards (DEIA) as the National Award Operator.

Ministry of Youth and Sports, permanent secretary, Allison Burchell attended the 2017 Asia Pacific Regional Conference for the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award in London from September 4-9, 2017 to receive the country’s licence.  Ms Burchell was accompanied by DEIA Fiji Programme Manager, Ms Olivia Tawaqa.

“Fiji has been involved with DEIA since 1965 and following a change in policy in 2012 to manage the Award world-wide on a licencing model, the Ministry was awarded a three-year conditional accreditation to run the programme in the country till the end of August 2017,” said Ms Burchell.

“We have now have achieved a full licence to run the Award for the next three years and hopefully, when it is renewed, it will be for the full period possible of six years.  This is a great achievement for a non-formal education programme run in over 140 countries,” said Ms Burchell.

Ms Burchell added that the Ministry of Youth and Sports signed the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Conditional Licence Agreement in 2013 to implement the Award programme within the country.

“For the past few years, the Ministry as the national award operator has been working towards meeting all requirements and ensuring that Fiji complies with the international standards set by the DEIA Foundation,” said Ms Burchell.

“We are proud to be granted a three year full licence which was formally handed over at the conference,” said PS Burchell.

General Secretary for the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation, Mr John May, during the opening of the conference said; “It is an absolute joy to have the Asia Pacific Regional Conference in the United Kingdom to discuss the contributions and future of DEIA within the region.”

Joining Fiji at the conference were National Directors and Programme Managers from Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, India, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Nepal, Bangladesh and the International Foundation members.

Feedback:  jyotip@fijisun.com.fj