The European Union has today confirmed that as a Governmental institution, the Fiji National University was not eligible to be a direct partner of the EU for the implementation of the program that has just been given to the Australia Pacific Technical College.
EU Ambassador Andrew Jacobs said this is due to the provisions of Article 37 of the EU’s Development Cooperation Instrument Regulation, which has applied to Fiji since 2007.
Article 37 relates to suspension of aid assistance to a country.
The European Union has made this comment after Fijivillage questioned the EU whether Europeaid considered FNU for the training of the sugar cane farmers.
4 million Euros of aid will be channelled through the Australia Pacific Technical College to train the sugar cane farmers.
Serious concerns have been raised about the effectiveness of this program through the Australia Pacific Technical College by the Fijian government.
Jacobs said the EU is keen to explore how the FNU could best be involved in the programme.
He said the APTC was chosen in view of their consolidated presence in the field and long lasting experience in providing vocational training in Fiji and their presence in the sugar belt, with a very high success rate in terms of jobs offered to trainees, the consistency of the training they provide with the requirements of the Fijian Higher Education Commission and their specific experience in the sugar sector.
When we asked the EU whether it would reconsider it’s decision as requested by the Fijian government, the EU says it intends to continue to rely on APTC for the provision of vocational training, as this has been recognised as the best available option.
It said the vocational training will be planned and implemented in the closest collaboration with the Fijian sugar stakeholders to ensure that it responds fully to the needs of the sugar industry.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
