Fiji’s education sector has reached an impressive valuation of $350 million, according to Hasmukh Lal, CEO of Oceania Education & Technology Solutions (OETS). This announcement was made during the launch of the Oceania Institute of Technology (OIT) in Nadi, a new subsidiary under OETS.
Lal, who has nearly 18 years of experience in tertiary education and over a decade in leadership roles, noted that the education landscape is undergoing rapid transformation due to technological advancements and global connectivity. He highlighted the importance of catering to the upcoming Generation Alpha, which will be increasingly intertwined with technology, thereby altering the delivery and reception of education.
In terms of financial investments, Lal reported that Fiji allocates around $150 million for scholarships, coupled with $100 million for operational grants to tertiary institutions. This includes funding from the Tertiary Scholarship and Loans Service (TSLS) and the Higher Education Commission of Fiji. Additionally, the Fiji National Provident Fund’s 2025 annual report indicated around $40 million was set aside for education assistance and development grants. Furthermore, scholarship expenditure in Fiji is approximately $25 million, complemented by about $10 million from various private fee-paying programs and $25 million from levy collections. This detailed funding structure further supports the $350 million figure, representing a conservative estimate of annual public and private investment in the country’s tertiary education.
Lal emphasized that such significant investment highlights the necessity for revising and strengthening laws to ensure optimal returns for both the government and the public sector. He called for the consideration of public-private partnerships to enhance human capital development, particularly if public institutions are unable to meet the educational demands of the country.
Looking to the future, Lal announced that OIT aims to maintain a strong Pacific focus and will engage in consultations with both governmental and private sector entities. Moreover, OIT plans to establish a Centre for Entrepreneurship & Community Empowerment to further impact the community positively.
Having personally invested $1 million in the new institution located at Challenge Plaza in Namaka, Nadi, Lal shared that the Pacific Hub is already in the process of enrolling students, with the inaugural trimester scheduled to begin at the end of February. This development not only enhances educational opportunities in Fiji but also holds the potential to foster entrepreneurship and community growth throughout the region, creating a promising outlook for the future.