$160m Lost in Students’ TELS loan scheme:

A recent audit reveals that Fiji has experienced a significant financial shortfall, amounting to about $160 million, in its Tertiary Students Loan Scheme (TSLS) over the past decade.

Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro disclosed this information in Parliament yesterday, while responding to a written question from Opposition Member of Parliament Alipate Tuicolo.

He said 21,685 students who enrolled under the scheme between 2013 and 2023 either absconded, become inactive in their studies, or had yet to graduate, resulting in their bond terms expiring.

Mr Tuicolo requested that the minister provide details on the number of students enrolled in the TSLS who did not complete their studies at their respective higher education institutions.

“From 2014 to 2023, there were 21,685 students who have either absconded, are inactive or are yet to graduate and their bond term has expired. This equates to about $160m of investment,” Mr Radrodro said.

“The breakdown by institutions cannot be released, however, the institutions have the information on probation, suspension and non-completion.”

He said from 2014 to 2019, students with very low marks were given TELS loans to pursue degree programmes, which contributed to the high rate of non-completion.

The technical colleges also attributed to the non-completion figures, he said.

“The Fijian Parliament has approved amendments to the TSLS Act to obtain academically ‘at risk’ student information.

“The information is to be used to subsequently prepare remedial plans for their tertiary education institutions to early detect and provide scaffolding support to reduce the non - completion rate.”

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