FHEC tells Pacific Polytech how $500,000 grant can be spent
FHEC says funds cannot be used for buildings or other capital works
Tuesday 18 August 2026 | 12:00
Fiji Higher Education Commission director Eci Naisele.
Photo: Fiji National University
The Fiji Higher Education Commission (FHEC) will soon write to Pacific Polytech outlining how its reduced $500,000 Government grant must be spent, with the funds restricted to teaching, learning and operational costs.
FHEC director Eci Naisele confirmed the institution could not use the money for capital works.
“There are a number of things that we’ll be writing to them shortly regarding how they’re going to use the money,” Mr Naisele said.
Related stories
“They have to clearly identify the key areas that they will use the money for, in terms of operational matters only. It’s not for building, it’s not for other bigger stuff that some have been doing.”
Pacific Polytech’s operating grant was slashed from $7 million to $500,000 this year, prompting chairperson Ganesh Chand to demand that FHEC publicly disclose the funding formula.
“There is no formula. All they are trying to do is cover up this arbitrary decision,” Mr Chand said.
Mr Naisele said the formula allocated 97 per cent of funding to universities and three per cent among other institutions meeting eligibility criteria.
He said the Ministry of Finance made the final funding decisions, while FHEC only recommended the amounts.
Grants approved by Parliament in July are now being disbursed to 14 registered institutions nationwide.
