Fiji Technical Institute May

Train Other Islanders

The help given by Australia in the establishment of the Derrick Technical Institute in Suva was acknowledged by Fiji’s Governor, Sir Derek Jakeway, when he officially opened the institute on April 22. The institute (pictured) is the first school of its kind in Fiji.

It conducts a wide range of courses in technical, commercial and academic subjects, and its present enrolment of 1,000 includes 600 part-time students attending evening classes.

Sir Derek said the flow of educational assistance from Australia under the Commonwealth Co-operation in Education Scheme really started from 1960, when Mr. J. M. Carswell visited Fiji from Australia. Australia had trained several of the instructors for the institute and had made available the principal of the institute, Mr.

J. W. Wilson, for two years at a nominal cost.

Australia had trained or made available technical instructors for other schools in Fiji, and her contribution to the development of technical education in Fiji was “considerable and generous”, said Sir Derek.

He added that Fiji planned to develop a comprehensive system of technical and vocational education as soon as possible.

The Derrick Institute would have a hostel so that it could serve students in other Pacific territories. A promised grant from the Colonial Development and Welfare Fund would meet 90 per cent, of the cost of £50,000 for the hostel.

The Derrick Institute (named after the late Mr. R. A. Derrick), cost £240,000, 90 per cent, of which was provided by the British Government. Various firms and organisations provided some of the equipment for the institute. There are well-equipped specialist rooms and workshops.

Teaching staff comprises 12 full-time and 32 part-time instructors.

Sir Derek made the point that there needed to be a much more universal acceptance of Fiji’s recently introduced indentured apprenticeship scheme by Fiji business undertakings if all who should be trained were to be trained.

Photo: Rob Wright