Poor coordination between agencies disrupts student travel

Poor coordination between government agencies caused confusion for students with education loans, leading to travel delays and even missed flights.

This was revealed by the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence report tabled in Parliament.

Report noted that students were often unsure which agency they needed clearance from before travelling overseas.

During the period under review, Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) was responsible for managing the financial loan component of the Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Scheme (TSLS), while TSLS continued to manage scholarships.

In the report, the committee noted that this split responsibility created serious confusion, especially at airports and border points.

Many students did not know whether they needed approval from FRCS, TSLS or Immigration before departure. As a result, some were delayed at the airport, while others missed their flights altogether.

The Committee revealed that FRCS itself acknowledged it did not have the proper systems and structures to manage student loans effectively, as this role fell outside its core mandate of tax and customs administration.

“These challenges were not caused by the students, but by poor coordination and unclear communication between agencies,” the Committee’s December report stated.

To address the problem, the full responsibility for loan and bond administration has since been transferred back to TSLS.

TSLS has now established kiosks at border points, allowing students to check their loan records, update balances and receive travel clearance online in real time. This one-stop service has simplified clearance procedures and reduced delays.

The Committee stressed the need for clear, coordinated and timely communication between government agencies. It said students must be properly informed of their responsibilities under TSLS loan and bond agreements to avoid similar problems in the future.

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