Our Partners
Education
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Public spending on education was 6.4% of GDP in 2005. There are ten years of compulsory education starting at age six. Net enrolment ratios are 91% for primary and 79% for secondary, and gross enrolment ratio for all levels combined 72% (2006). The pupil-teacher ratio for primary is 28:1 and for secondary 17:1 (2005). The school year starts in January. There are about 50 further education institutions, including four teacher-training colleges. The main campus of the regional University of the South Pacific (founded 1968), Fiji Institute of Technology and Fiji School of Medicine are all located in Suva. Illiteracy among people age 15-24 is 0.7% (0.9% for males and 0.6% for females, 1996 census). The main campus of the University of the South Pacific is at Suva and there are two further campuses in the country, at Labasa and Lautoka. Vocational programmes administered by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports have enabled unemployed youths to acquire training and skills in various trades. Education remains critical for the development of the rural areas. Upgrading of rural schools and facilities is being supported with European Union funding. | |
Primary Education
Primary education consists of 8 years of schooling for children ages of 6 to 14.
Secondary Education
Secondary education is subsidized by the government and is for seven years.
Higher Education
The University of the South Pacific (USP) is a public university and it is an international centre for teaching and research on Pacific culture and environment.