Fiji’s Cabinet has made a significant decision to reintroduce mark scaling across all national examination levels starting from the 2026 academic year. This policy aims to align Fiji’s educational assessment with international standards, fostering an equitable and consistent evaluation framework for students.
The reintroduction of scaling reflects a commitment to enhancing educational fairness, ensuring that student performance is accurately represented. This system has been endorsed as an effective approach to addressing disparities in assessments, especially given the varying levels of challenge across different subjects. Education Minister Aseri Radrodro emphasized that the scaling process would not only uphold fairness but also encourage students to engage with more difficult subjects, particularly in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), computer studies, and commerce. This is hoped to contribute toward developing a skilled workforce that will be vital for Fiji’s future.
The scaling system’s return comes after a period of deliberations and public consultations, where strong support for the initiative was documented. Previous instances of the scaling system, which was in place until its discontinuation in 2015, demonstrated its effectiveness in standardizing results and providing a framework for comparability and fairness.
Radrodro noted that many countries worldwide already implement similar systems in their examination processes, reinforcing the concept that the scaling method aligns with global educational practices. This strategic move is seen as a step forward in ensuring that Fiji’s education system competes on an international level, enabling better opportunities for its students and addressing existing inequalities.
This decision not only reflects a response to the past challenges within Fiji’s education sector but also embodies a hopeful future. By fostering an environment where students feel encouraged to excel in rigorous academic areas, Fiji can work toward a more competent and capable workforce, equipped to adapt and thrive in a rapidly evolving global landscape.