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STANDING COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AFFAIRS Review of the Ministry of Youth and Sports 2018 - 2019 Annual Report PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FIJI Parliamentary Paper No.
69 of 2021 September 2021 Published and printed by the Department of Legislature, Parliament House, Government Buildings, SUVA TABLE OF CONTENTS COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP…………..………………………………………………………3 CHAIRPERSON’S FOREWORD...…………...…………………………………………………4 RECOMMENDATION …………………………………………………………………………..5 1.0 INTRODUCTION…………………………………….…………………………………..5 1.1 Committee Procedure………………………………………………………….……...5 2.0 ABOUT THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND SPORTS……………………………………….6 3.0 COMMITTEE’S OBSERVATIONS……………………………….………...…………7 3.1 Partnership with the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs in Implementation of Youth Development Programmes …………………………….…………...6 Recommendation……………………………………………………..…...6 3.2 Specific Skills Training at the Five Youth Training Centres………………………..6-7 Recommendation………………………………………………… .. …...…7 4.0 GENDER ANALYSIS……………………………………….………………….…………...7 5.0 CONCLUSION…………………………………………………………..………….….....8 COMMITTEE MEMBERS’ SIGNATURE ………………..…………………………………….9 APPENDIX Published Written Evidence …………….………………………………….……………10 2 COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP Chairperson Hon.
Viam Pillay MP Government Member Deputy Chairperson Hon.

George Vegnathan MP Government Member Member Hon.

Alipate Nagata MP Government Member Member Hon.

Salote Radrodro MP Opposition Member Member Hon.

Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu MP Opposition Member 3 CHAIRPERSON’S FOREWORD I am pleased to present the report of the Standing Committee on Social Affairs on the annual review of the Ministry of Youth and Sports for 2018 – 2019.
This review was undertaken in accordance with Standing Order 109(2)(b) which mandates the committee to look into issues related to health, education, social services, labour, culture and media.

The committee first met to deliberate in April and formulated questions pertaining to the Annual Report.
In order to comply with health directives and protocols on public gathering and social distancing, the committee accepted a written response from the Ministry of Youth and Sports in lieu of a face-to-face hearing.

Following our deliberations on its written response, we wrote to the Ministry requesting for further clarification on other related matters.

Upon receipt of all relevant information on the committee’s queries, the committee compiled its findings and subsequently endorsed its report in August.
At this juncture, I wish to thank the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr Rovereto Nayacalevu, and his staff for their timely assistance in this review process.

I also extend my gratitude to my Committee colleagues namely: Hon.

George Vegnathan (Deputy Chairperson), Hon.

Alipate Nagata, Hon.

Salote Radrodro and Hon.

Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu for their contributions during the committee’s deliberations.
On behalf of the Standing Committee on Social Affairs, I commend this Report to Parliament and request all members of this august House to take note of the Report.

4 RECOMMENDATION: The Standing Committee on Social Affairs has conducted the annual review of the Ministry of Youth and Sports for 2018 – 2019 and recommends that the House take note of its report.
1.0 INTRODUCTION The 2018 - 2019 Annual Report of the Ministry of Youth and Sports was tabled in Parliament during the December 2020 meeting and referred to the Standing Committee on Social Affairs for its scrutiny.

Standing Orders 109(2)(b) allows Standing Committee on Social Affairs to examine matters related to health, education, social services, labour, culture and media.
Furthermore, Standing Orders 110(1)(c) authorises the Standing Committee to “scrutinise the government departments with responsibility within the committee's subject area, including by investigating, inquiring into, and making recommendations relating to any aspect of such a legislative program, budget, legislation or proposed department's administration, rationalisation, restructuring, functioning, organisation, structure and policy formulation.” 1.1 Committee Procedure We first met in April to deliberate on and formulate questions pertaining to the 2018 - 2019 Annual Report of the Ministry of Youth and Sports which was sent to the Ministry for its response.
Following our deliberations on its written response, we again wrote to the Ministry requesting for further clarification on other related matters.

Upon receipt of all relevant information on the committee’s queries, we compiled our findings on the Annual Report and subsequently endorsed it in August.

We received written and supplementary responses from the Ministry of Youth and Sports for this annual review.
They are available on the Parliament website, at the following link: http://www.parliament.gov.fj/committees/standing-committee-on-social-affairs/ 5 2.0 ABOUT THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND SPORTS The Ministry of Youth and Sports has put in place opportunities for our youth to be empowered and self-sustainable through its Mobile and Specific Skills, empowerment and capacity building training programmes.
These programmes in the Youth and Sports ministry fill a vital gap and addresses youth who have not made it in the formal education sector.

To complement this, the Ministry of Youth and Sports focuses on the facilitation of youth and sports development through the establishment of a conducive policy environment that provides strategic support systems, initiatives for personal development, character building, sports policy implementation and community based youth led programs.
3.0 COMMITTEE’S OBSERVATIONS 3.1 Partnership with the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs in Implementation of Youth Development Programmes We note that Ministry collaborates with the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs in planning and implementing its youth development programmes.

An example of its collaboration is the implementation of Traditional Leadership programs to youth in rural villages by the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs.

The other area of collaboration was on the Saemaul Undong program (SMU).
This is a community development program that refers to any community development movement, which builds a village or community to improve villagers’ quality of life based on the spirits of diligence, self-help and cooperation, and approaches by the villagers, of the villagers and for the villagers.

Through this, the Ministry has managed to identify 11 villages for the SMU projects with the assistance of the iTaukei Affairs and the Provincial Council Offices.

Recommendation 1.
Recommendation 1.

That the Saemaul Undong program be expanded and piloted in other provinces.

3.2 Specific Skills Training at the Five Youth Training Centres We note that 145 youths graduated from the five Youth Training Centers by the end of 2019 representing an 82.8% achievement.

The shortfall is attributed to the underperformance of the three YTC’s (Naleba, Naqere, and Yavitu), youth disciplinary issues and lack of guidance which recorded less intake from previous years.
6 The Ministry informed us that this was due to several trainees dropping out in the middle of the program either due to peer pressure, inadequate family support systems or financial reasons.

We understand that the Ministry has provided several support structures through its ongoing empowerment programs at the training centres such as the Seeds of Success Program and the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Awards program.
In addition to this, the trainers at the training centres regularly check on the progress made by the trainees and provide focused support for those that need it.

Parents are advised to take an active role in motivating and encouraging the trainees to do their best and to assist the Ministry in ensuring students are able to reach their full potential.
Furthermore, four out of the Ministry’s five training centers have boarding facilities which have just been recently improved to accommodate students and ensure attendance is closely monitored.

Recommendations 1.

That the Ministry conduct more community outreach programmes to create awareness on the various skills trainings provided in these training centres.

2.

That the Ministry undertake detailed research to ascertain the reasons for students dropping out and take remedial actions accordingly.

3.
3.

That the Ministry introduce income generating activities for students while they are engaged in their training programmes.

4.0 GENDER ANALYSIS Standing Order 110(2) provides that where a committee conducts an activity, the committee shall ensure that full consideration will be given to the principle of gender equality so as to ensure all matters are considered with regard to the impact and benefit on both men and women equally.
The gender breakdown of the staff composition at Ministry in the 2018-2019 financial year and the percentage of women in managerial positions is provided below: 7 5.0 CONCLUSION The committee has fulfilled its mandate to review the 2018-2019 Annual Report of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

As part of its review process, the committee received written and supplementary responses from the Ministry.
In this review report, the committee has highlighted various areas that need to be strengthened by the Ministry and relevant recommendations have been made for the resolution of issues.
8 COMMITTEE MEMBERS’ SIGNATURE We, the Members of the Standing Committee on Social Affairs, hereby agree with the contents of this report: 9 APPENDIX Published written evidence Written evidence and supplementary information was received from the Ministry of Youth and Sports and can be viewed on link: http://www.parliament.gov.fj/committees/standing-committee-on-social-affairs/ the Parliament website at following the 10