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The Indigenous Affairs
Scholarship Scheme (IASS) was established through the provision
of a $3.5million grant from Government in late 1983. The first
phase was implemented for five years from 1984-1988, with
further Government approval for a second phase from 1989 to
1993. In 1994 the fund was increased to $4.7 million per annum.
From 2001 it was further increased to $5m to meet the increasing
demand for scholarships.
This Affirmative Action
policy is aimed at redressing the educational gap and imbalance
between Indigenous and other ethnic groups in the country.
It has enabled many Indigenous graduate with first degrees
and postgraduate educational qualifications, something that
would not have been possible without the Indigenous Affairs
Scholarship Scheme.
Since its establishment,
the Fund has been administered by the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, through the Indigenous Scholarhip Committee, which
is responsible for the allocation and administration of the
Fund. Of this special annual funding, approximately 53% of
it is expenditure committed for ongoing students while 47%
is used for the allocation of new awards. Unlike the situation
prevailing when the programme began in 1984, we now have a
large number of Indigenous who qualify for tertiary studies
locally as well as overseas but not all can be assisted from
the scholarship programme.
Awards of scholarships
are done on merit.
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