Lockington's Everyday Fiji ... Life Goes On

 Gauge the Market First

I find it rather ironic that we make education free and easy to get a degree. And some parents pay through their noses because tuition fees at universities are very high.

It is s good idea to get everyone educated, but have we thought of creating more jobs? I read with real interest that there are 9523 and out of this 858 are degree holders. If we were to put a dollar value that people had paid to get those certificates, diplomas and degrees, I bet the amount would be staggering.

While we still can, could we think of creating more jobs and not just educate people for them to only find that there are no jobs for them. And may I suggest that all tertiary institutions gauge the market and offer only jobs that are available. I have been reliably told that, that’s not the tertiary institutions job, they just educate and let someone else create jobs.

If this is true then it’s a silly way to do things. Because for one thing the market is flooded with people who hold certificates, diplomas and degrees in computer science. And there is the Diploma in Customs, hundreds of people are doing the course lucky if ten or fifteen will get employed because that’s what the market is.

One parent told me that he thinks the institutions are just making money!

Allen Lockington is a self-employed customs agent and business consultant who has regular articles published in Fiji. I thank Allen for permission to reprint some of them in this political blog. They remind us that life goes on, whatever the political situation. And it's good to know that.