The Fiji National University (FNU) launched its inaugural nationwide Careers Teachers Workshop at the Ba Campus last week.

More than 20 secondary school careers teachers from the districts of Ba, Tavua, and Rakiraki turned up with high interest to be part of the university’s historic event and a first for the nation, while more than 30 teachers turned up to the workshop at the Namaka Campus in Nadi last Friday.

The workshop was established to provide career teachers at secondary schools with guidance and vital information they can utilise in their career classes to counsel and guide students in terms of choosing a career path.

Discussions were held around the areas of career paths, education, and training requirements from the College of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry (CAFF); College of Business, Hospitality, and Tourism Studies (CBHTS); the College of Engineering, Science, and Technology (CEST); the College of Humanities and Education (CHE), the College of Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences (CMNHS); the Fiji Maritime Academy (FMA); and the National Training and Productivity Centre (NTPC).

The University also provided teachers with application process training so the teachers would have knowledge and understanding of the process so they could later help guide and assist students in lodging their online applications at FNU.

FNU Manager Outreach, Vishal Lal said the university aimed to provide the right training to the teachers, who would pass on the information and guide the young students to choose the right career path.

“This workshop is also one way of strengthening the relationship and bond with the different careers teachers in all the schools around the country,” Lal said.

“I am happy to also mention that every school in the Ba, Tavua, and Rakiraki districts were part of this workshop.”

He said he was looking forward to visiting other teachers at the other allocated venues around the country.

In his opening address, the Head of Ba Campus, Niraj Dharmendra, highlighted to the teachers that the students were the main focus of the workshop because it would eventually be their own choice in the future to select their career path.

“You, the careers teachers, are the ones who need to have all the information with you so that you can provide the relevant information to the students while making their choices, you are the ones that will make a difference in their lives by providing the right career paths to the students,” Dharmendra said.

Aseri Vaciloa, a careers teacher at Nakauvadra High School in Rakiraki, said she was grateful to FNU for giving teachers the opportunity to learn more about the university and the career pathways the students can take.

“This is also a chance to give to our students who are not academically good,” said Ms Vaciloa.

“I am blessed to be given this opportunity, and it has empowered me to guide my students and provide them with the right information when choosing FNU in the future.”

Ba Sanatan College careers teacher, Ramnish Mani said most of the students in his area of residence were falling behind in their academic work because of their low educational backgrounds, but he was content to learn that they still have a chance with FNU to help them succeed and grow.

“Definitely, I will take back with me what I have learned to the villages around Ba Sanatan College to parents in the communities, especially for our Year 11 students in the trade area, as well as to our Year 12 and Year 13 students, who have a lot of opportunities to look at,” Mani highlighted.

The Careers Teachers’ Workshop (CTW) will also be held at the Nasinu Campus tomorrow, 22 March and at the Naduna Campus in Labasa on March 24.

Schools in the Maritime Zones can also join the virtual session on April 5 from 9am to 11am.

The initiative is part of the FNU’s Strategic Plan 2021–2026 under Pillar 3 on Student Experience, which strives to enhance access for students across Fiji and the region to high-quality Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) and Higher Education (HE). This is true to FNU’s dual-sector design.

For further information, interested participants can contact the Outreach Team at outreach@fnu.ac.fj.