"RABUKA IS A CON-ATRIST: The biggest Conman in the political arena today is Sitiveni Rabuka. Imagine this, he claimed that God told him to COUP the Democratic Government of Bavadra in 1987 and since than he has issued numerous statements before three different elections asking for forgiveness and admitting he was wrong. So what does that say about God?"
Waqavonovono My views on Sitiveni Rabuka's FREE TERTIARY EDUCATION and Bainimarama’s TELS
■ WHAT IS FREE EDUCATION
FREE education refers to education that is funded through taxation or charitable NGO's rather than tuition funding.
I repeat, Free education refers to education that is funded through taxation or charitable NGO'S rather than tuition funding.
■ IS FREE EDUCATION A HUMAN RIGHT?
Article 13 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ensures the right to free education at primary education and progressive introduction of it at secondary and higher education as the right to education.
So Free Education is a Right, including Free Higher Education. Our Leaders actually have no choice but to provide the means necessary to make Higher Education free or affordable
■ ARE THERE COUNTRIES THAT HAVE FREE EDUCATION?
Norway, Sweden, Argentina, Germany, Slovenia and even Greece are part of the few nations that have free higher education
■ DOES FIJI HAVE FREE HIGHER EDUCATION?
We have partial Free higher education, but at a Certificate level and in various TECHNICAL INSTITUTES throughout Fiji. From what I understand, these institutes offer TRADE QUALIFICATIONS.
■ WHY HAVE FREE HIGHER EDUCATION IN FIJI?
In a highly fluid and highly competitive global economy, we need the best-educated workforce to offer the world. It's actually stupid and counter-productive to the best interests of Fiji, that thousands of young people cannot afford to go to Higher Education Facilities like USP FNU or UNIFIJI , and that thousands graduate with a pile of debt that burdens them for decades. That shortsighted path to the future must end.
I have and will continue to fight to make sure that every Fijian who studies hard in school can go to University regardless of how much money their parents make and without going deeply into debt.
■ RABUKA IS A CON-ARTIST
The biggest Conman in the political arena today is Sitiveni Rabuka. Imagine this, he claimed that God told him to COUP the Democratic Government of Bavadra in 1987 and since than he has issued numerous statements before three different elections asking for forgiveness and admitting he was wrong. So what does that say about God?
In regards to Free Tertiary or higher education, what RABUKA is proposing is not FREE HIGHER EDUCATION. He is actually proposing a return to his SCHOLARSHIPS!
His scholarships will look like this:
- likely to be ethnic based as SODELPA wants FAB scholarships back
- will be limited in both scope and substance
- will be limited to certain fields
- will keep you in country
- does not mean that you will get a good paying job
- those who are on Loan contracts with government will have to pay it back still
- does not have a plan for the free Technical College currently on offer.
- does not solve the problem of Young people wanting to study but don't meet the LISTED areas of Study
So I don't understand why people are so excited over this plan. It actually means that he wants to take us back 30years to a scholarship scheme that is outdated and discriminatory. I'm amazed people actually buy that lie. That's not FREE HIGHER EDUCATION!!! That's a blarry Con-Job.
He apparently told one of his own youth council leaders that the SVT Government (his Government ) created the nation's first scholarships program. This is another proof that Rabuka is a political opportunist and a liar. As a young independent nation the Alliance Government created scholarships that took over the British run scholarships program, NOT Rabuka.
■ YOUNG PEOPLE BE ALERT
I ask that you focus on the issues here.. we have a scholarship program that does not work - 600 top students a year ... and we have a pathetic loans system that places students in debt before they even graduate or have a job.
We also have an economy that can't sustain jobs in Fiji. This is why we need to qualify as many young people as we can and get them jobs either in Fiji or overseas. It's time we had a sport Institute that could help land contracts for promising athletes especially Rugby players,
That's what we need! A talent agency that scouts for Fiji's best musicians and performers and preps them for overseas jobs even if we can get them contracts to perform overseas that will be superb. They will send money here - we end the cash flow problems and the economy peaks - Fijians prosper .. end of story
We have the best caregivers, nurses, doctors, lawyers and accountant's - we should allow them to attain contracts overseas and aide them.
This all starts with free tertiary or higher education and debt forgiveness. I will not rest until this happens.
We must go beyond votes and look at problem solving
Be careful of buying into what politicians say. Your support and vote is what want, and they will do anything to get it. So don't fall for their lies, read their statements properly and think carefully before deciding to embrace their plans.
One thing is for sure, TELS is going away. What replaces it is the issue.
■ WHAT IS FREE EDUCATION
FREE education refers to education that is funded through taxation or charitable NGO's rather than tuition funding.
I repeat, Free education refers to education that is funded through taxation or charitable NGO'S rather than tuition funding.
■ IS FREE EDUCATION A HUMAN RIGHT?
Article 13 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ensures the right to free education at primary education and progressive introduction of it at secondary and higher education as the right to education.
So Free Education is a Right, including Free Higher Education. Our Leaders actually have no choice but to provide the means necessary to make Higher Education free or affordable
■ ARE THERE COUNTRIES THAT HAVE FREE EDUCATION?
Norway, Sweden, Argentina, Germany, Slovenia and even Greece are part of the few nations that have free higher education
■ DOES FIJI HAVE FREE HIGHER EDUCATION?
We have partial Free higher education, but at a Certificate level and in various TECHNICAL INSTITUTES throughout Fiji. From what I understand, these institutes offer TRADE QUALIFICATIONS.
■ WHY HAVE FREE HIGHER EDUCATION IN FIJI?
In a highly fluid and highly competitive global economy, we need the best-educated workforce to offer the world. It's actually stupid and counter-productive to the best interests of Fiji, that thousands of young people cannot afford to go to Higher Education Facilities like USP FNU or UNIFIJI , and that thousands graduate with a pile of debt that burdens them for decades. That shortsighted path to the future must end.
I have and will continue to fight to make sure that every Fijian who studies hard in school can go to University regardless of how much money their parents make and without going deeply into debt.
■ RABUKA IS A CON-ARTIST
The biggest Conman in the political arena today is Sitiveni Rabuka. Imagine this, he claimed that God told him to COUP the Democratic Government of Bavadra in 1987 and since than he has issued numerous statements before three different elections asking for forgiveness and admitting he was wrong. So what does that say about God?
In regards to Free Tertiary or higher education, what RABUKA is proposing is not FREE HIGHER EDUCATION. He is actually proposing a return to his SCHOLARSHIPS!
His scholarships will look like this:
- likely to be ethnic based as SODELPA wants FAB scholarships back
- will be limited in both scope and substance
- will be limited to certain fields
- will keep you in country
- does not mean that you will get a good paying job
- those who are on Loan contracts with government will have to pay it back still
- does not have a plan for the free Technical College currently on offer.
- does not solve the problem of Young people wanting to study but don't meet the LISTED areas of Study
So I don't understand why people are so excited over this plan. It actually means that he wants to take us back 30years to a scholarship scheme that is outdated and discriminatory. I'm amazed people actually buy that lie. That's not FREE HIGHER EDUCATION!!! That's a blarry Con-Job.
He apparently told one of his own youth council leaders that the SVT Government (his Government ) created the nation's first scholarships program. This is another proof that Rabuka is a political opportunist and a liar. As a young independent nation the Alliance Government created scholarships that took over the British run scholarships program, NOT Rabuka.
■ YOUNG PEOPLE BE ALERT
I ask that you focus on the issues here.. we have a scholarship program that does not work - 600 top students a year ... and we have a pathetic loans system that places students in debt before they even graduate or have a job.
We also have an economy that can't sustain jobs in Fiji. This is why we need to qualify as many young people as we can and get them jobs either in Fiji or overseas. It's time we had a sport Institute that could help land contracts for promising athletes especially Rugby players,
That's what we need! A talent agency that scouts for Fiji's best musicians and performers and preps them for overseas jobs even if we can get them contracts to perform overseas that will be superb. They will send money here - we end the cash flow problems and the economy peaks - Fijians prosper .. end of story
We have the best caregivers, nurses, doctors, lawyers and accountant's - we should allow them to attain contracts overseas and aide them.
This all starts with free tertiary or higher education and debt forgiveness. I will not rest until this happens.
We must go beyond votes and look at problem solving
Be careful of buying into what politicians say. Your support and vote is what want, and they will do anything to get it. So don't fall for their lies, read their statements properly and think carefully before deciding to embrace their plans.
One thing is for sure, TELS is going away. What replaces it is the issue.
From Fijileaks Archive:
