MINISTRY RETRACTS STATEMENT ON FREE EDUCATION POLICY

Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) has retracted a media statement attributed to Mr David Polosomana, Principal Education Officer, Education Provider Support Unit, published in the Island Sun newspaper regarding the Government’s Free Education Policy.

The Ministry wishes to make clear that the views attributed to Mr Polosomana do not reflect the policy position of the Government and have been misrepresented as such.

The Free Education Policy is a flagship commitment of the GREAT Coalition Government. Its detailed design, scope, costing and implementation arrangements are currently being worked through by the Cabinet-established Inter-Ministerial Taskforce ahead of the policy’s planned commencement in January 2027.

As explained by the Prime Minister in Parliament this week, the Government is still undertaking the necessary work to finalise the policy. Once this process is completed, the Government intends to engage in bipartisan discussions to reach agreement on what will be included in the definition and scope of free education.

The Government is committed to ensuring that the policy is not only ambitious but also realistic, reasonable and sustainable, with appropriate costing, administrative systems and implementation instruments in place.

The Ministry therefore advises the public and media that the statement attributed to Mr Polosomana should not be regarded as an official statement of the Government’s Free Education Policy or its intended scope.

MEHRD will continue to provide accurate and authoritative information as the policy development and rollout process progresses towards its planned commencement in January 2027.

The Ministry regrets any confusion or misunderstanding that may have arisen from the published statement and reiterates its commitment to ensuring the public receives accurate information on this important national policy.

Source// Office of Prime Minister Press Release