‘Digital skills must start in classrooms’

A student of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial High School believes digital literacy should become an essential part of Fiji’s education system, saying students need practical technology skills to prepare for the future.

Speaking during the Constitution Review Commission consultation at Jai Narayan College in Suva yesterday, Palavana Singh said while Section 31 of the Constitution recognises the right to education, learning must continue to evolve with the changing needs of society.

Mahatma Gandhi Memorial High School student Palavana Singh during the Constitutional Review Commission consultations at Jai Narayan College on July 1, 2026.

Photo: Lavenia Waqanivanua

She said digital services had become part of everyday life and students needed skills beyond academic knowledge.

“Technology now plays a major role in almost every career, making digital skills essential for higher education and employment opportunities,” she said.

Palavana highlighted that many young people use devices and social media daily, but this does not always mean they have the professional digital skills required in the workplace.

She recommended that future education policies include digital literacy as a key component of the school curriculum alongside traditional teaching methods.

She said integrating digital learning into schools would help prepare students for the demands of a modern, technology-driven world.