The country has lost an estimated 3 per cent of its population permanently, with the number rising as more Fijians leave for jobs in Australia, New Zealand, the USA, and Canada. Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro revealed this during talks with Chinese Ambassador Zhou Jian and Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Service (TSLS) officials-chairperson Ro Teimumu Kepa, and chief executive officer Hasmukh Lal. Amid the exodus of skilled workers, Mr Radrodro has initiated discussions with China to fund vocational scholarships. The talks focused on a potential partnership to address the country’s skills gap through technical and vocational education. “The Government faces challenges in self-investing in a skilled workforce due to competing national priorities,” he said. TVET accounts for 64 per cent of jobs in Fiji, according to 2019 Bureau of Statistics data. However, advances in technology and industry resources have made vocational training more complex, leaving local institutions struggling to keep pace. Mr Radrodro identified China as a potential partner due to its leadership in technology-driven TVET training. He expressed hope that the Chinese government would fund scholarships in solar and renewable energy engineering, plant engineering, automotive electronics, telecommunications, aquaculture, and agricultural engineering. The plan proposes sending 50 students annually for three years. TSLS would oversee the selection and bonding process to ensure graduates return home to work. Mr Radrodro and Ambassador Zhou expressed commitment to formalising the agreement. Ambassador Zhou said the proposal looked positive, and if approved, TSLS would collaborate with selected Chinese training institutions, with a potential visit to assess their suitability. The initiative is expected to be included in Fiji’s 2025-2026 national budget under a new scholarship scheme supported by China. Feedback: inoke.rabonu@fijisun.com.fj