PM Explains Why TELS Benefits Every Student, Education A Priority

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says if Government was to make tertiary education free, other students would have to bear its consequences.

The consequences, he said, would leave no funds for other children who wish to benefit from the programme.

Mr Bainimarama said that student loan was the best option for students who do not make the cut for the government scholarship - National Toppers Scheme.

“TELS (Tertiary Education Loan Scheme) is a big help for our students,” he said while opening the Naitasiri Provincial Council meeting yesterday.

There are discount incentives in place for students who studied under loan schemes when they do pay up.

He said the Government had spent $21million as school fees for students in the province.

He told the meeting there were 47,000 children waiting for a payout from a total of $52 million from their lease money once they turn 18 years old.

Mr Bainimarama added that education remains to be one of the top priorities of the Government which was why education at both primary and secondary schools were made free.

So far a total of $140,000 has been utilised to improve the school grounds of Vunidawa Primary School and Waidina Secondary School.

TSLS

Since the inception of the schemes in 2014, a total of 53,115 students have benefited from the tertiary education scholarship and loan schemes.

This includes 48,312 under the TELS, 4564 under the NTS (including 25 for overseas studies), 165 under the Scholarship Scheme for students with Special Needs, 67 under the Donor Funded Scholarships and seven under the Civil Service Scholarships.

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