Parliament calls for inquiry into ‘illegal’ grants

The Standing Committee on Social Affairs has recommended a Commission of Inquiry to investigate how Government grants were allocated to two institutions that failed to meet accreditation requirements.

The committee’s consolidated review of the Fiji Higher Education Commission Annual Reports (2018-2021), tabled last week, called for thorough investigation into funding given to Pacific Polytech and Service Pro Institute.

“The committee recommends a commission of inquiry be appointed by Parliament of Republic of Fiji to thoroughly investigate how funds were allocated to Pacific Polytech and Service Pro Institute,” the report stated.

The inquiry would examine how grants were allocated despite the institutions not meeting Fiji Higher Education Commission (FHEC) criteria and lacking accredited courses.

The committee found that grants were allocated to institutions not approved by FHEC, with all courses offered at Service Pro Institute and Pacific Polytech remaining unaccredited by the commission.

“The committee recommends that the future funding of the two institutions, namely Service Pro Institute and Pacific Polytech, must stop immediately,” the report recommended.

FHEC director Eci Naisele previously told Parliament in August that grants given without commission approval could be considered illegal as the institutions failed to meet requirements.

The committee noted that some registered higher education institutions receiving government funding were teaching courses not accredited by FHEC.

Of the 49 registered institutions, only 35 complied with FHEC requirements to qualify for yearly grants during the reporting period.

The report also revealed that 13 caregiving institutions operating without accreditation had graduated excessive numbers of students before being closed, though all have since reopened.

Committee chairperson Iliesa Vanawalu led the review examining FHEC’s oversight of Fiji’s higher education sector.