Fiji Labour Party Questions Fairness of Scholarship Distribution

The Fiji Labour Party has raised concerns over the 2025 government scholarship allocation, calling the distribution unfair to minority communities.

According to figures revealed in Parliament by Education Minister Aseri Radrodro, indigenous Fijians, who make up 62.5% of the population, received 71% (6,181) of the 8,700 scholarships awarded.

In contrast, Indo-Fijians—about 33% of the population—received only 26% (2,278), falling short by 622 scholarships if calculated proportionally.

Other minorities (Europeans, Rotumans, Pacific Islanders, Chinese), who make up 4.5% of the population, received just 2.77% (241 scholarships) instead of the 392 they would be entitled to proportionally.

The Labour Party stated this disparity affects the future of children, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, and criticized the silence of minority MPs in Parliament.

It urged the government to review the scholarship distribution and ensure allocations fairly reflect Fiji’s diverse population. If affirmative action is necessary, Labour argues it should be based on need, not ethnicity.