Calls to Restructure Fiji education

Restructure education

www.fijitimes.com - Wednesday, October 07, 2009

THERE is a need for education to be restructured on a need basis, says a Fiji Institute of Technology academic.

The head of department for Management Dr Kunneth Ramakrishnan said education was not just about acquiring a degree.

"The level of education for those who have the opportunity to be educated is quite good compared to developing countries in Asia," he said.

"The problem is many of the people who want to be educated can't get that facility because of financial problems, poverty and other things.

"I feel that education can be restructured to be on a need base and not just giving a degree.

"I think all institutions particularly FIT, which will be the National University of Fiji have a serious role to rethink and restructure education."

Dr Ramakrishnan, who is from India, and has taught in universities in Sri Lanka, India and Fiji, said he had a lot to contribute to the institute and Fiji's work force.

"Employers look for people who are useful to them from day one they don't want to be trainers.

"Our job is train people to be useful to the employers so the employee need is the prime consideration in our management education.

"I have a responsibility now to play a useful role at FIT since I have been appointed the HOD for management.

"We wanted to introduce a number of short courses for different categories of people at different levels in the industries.

"Short courses mean one or two days, which is useful to them in their day to day functioning so there has been positive response from the industries."