National Federation Party leader Professor Biman Prasad has dismissed calls for an investigation into the funding for Pacific Polytech, asserting that the financial grants received were duly sanctioned by Parliament. He emphasized that budget allocations arise from submissions provided by various organizations and individuals when the Ministry of Finance requests them.
Prasad clarified that funding for higher education institutions falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education, with oversight from the Fiji Higher Education Commission (FHEC). He pointed out that all institutions, whether it be the University of the South Pacific (USP), Fiji National University (FNU), UniFiji, or Pacific Polytech, operate under grant agreements that have been reviewed by the Solicitor-General’s Office.
He elaborated that once Parliament approves the budget, the Ministry of Finance’s role concludes, and the oversight responsibility shifts to the relevant ministry and regulatory body. This process, he noted, is consistent with how grants are administered across various sectors, including healthcare and education.
Prasad also recalled that Pacific Polytech was registered in 2022 under the previous administration and had taken over technical colleges that had failed after nearly $30 million was expended on abandoned technical education initiatives. He remarked that Pacific Polytech played a vital role in revitalizing certain aspects of the technical education system and has been funded through the budgets for 2023 to 2026 based on its own submissions.
Addressing potential concerns from the Higher Education Commission regarding operational or qualification issues, Prasad stated that such matters should be resolved within the commission and do not necessitate a parliamentary inquiry or investigation. He firmly stated that it is impractical to shut down an institution that has been established and has successfully graduated a significant number of students in recent years.
He highlighted the positive impact of Pacific Polytech on the community, noting that over 95 percent of its students are iTaukei youth who had previously faced unemployment after leaving school early. Many of these students have now acquired skills and secured employment, contributing positively to their communities. Prasad dismissed the calls for investigation as unfounded and characterized them as “rubbish.”
This strong defense of Pacific Polytech’s funding and operations reflects a commitment to supporting educational initiatives that benefit the youth and the wider community in Fiji.