Opposition Leader Ro Teimumu Kepa has admitted that she made an error by saying that the National Toppers Scheme started in 2010 which resulted in more Indo Fijian students getting the scholarships under the Toppers Scheme.
Ro Teimumu had made the statement in parliament on Monday.
However, when we questioned her on the statistics and highlighted to her that the National Toppers Scheme started this year, Ro Teimumu said that she meant to say 2014.
Up to 2013, the scholarships were issued based on race.
While thanking Fijivillage for highlighting the error to her, Ro Teimumu said that the point she was trying to make was that 5,201 skilled persons left for greener pastures in 2006.
83% of these people were Indo Fijians, 12% were iTaukei and 5% others.
The Opposition Leader said the trend was similar in 2007 with 81% Indo Fijians, 13% iTaukei and 6% others.
She said majority of the scholarships are won by our Indo Fijian students who make up the highest percentage of those migrating.
Ro Teimumu said by the migration trends alone, this means the majority of the scholars will leave and this will eventually affect our future human resource needs.
The Opposition Leader has made her stand clear that the previous system should be brought back.
In an interview with Fijivillage, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama had said that the scholarships will not be issued based on race as he said the best way forward is to issue scholarships based on merit.
Bainimarama also said what type of message is being sent to the children of the country if things are given out based on race.
