RESEARCH (FOR A MASTER'S DEGREE) IN SUVA, FIJI

By Jacqueline Pijl

I was in Fiji from February to June 1991 to conduct research into girls higher education. I defined 'higher education' as the senior year of secondary school and the 'prepatory year' at the University of the South Pacific. Successful completetion of either of these offer university entrance.

The first question I wanted to answer was which girls had chosen to undertake higher education. In addressing this question, emphasis was rapidly placed on differences between ethnic groups in Suva. In my research I paid particular attention to indigenous Fijian and Indian students, and, to a lesser extent, on Chinese and European students.

The second stage of the research was directed at the future expectations of the established group. What are they planning to do with a university education? Are they ambitious for a professional career? How important is 'having a family' for them?

The largest group of girls following one or the other course of study were of Indian descent, in spite of the greater difficulty for these girls to do so. Fijian girls formed the majority in the Foundation Year of the University, and in the government secondary schools. (This is a result of Fijian government policy).

Culturally determined ideas of women's position exert a large amount of influence on the future expectations of Chinese and Indian girls. Marriage is seen as extremely important for every woman, and the fact that future spouses are frequently chosen by parents is accepted without question. The well-paid job that they have an eye on for themselves would be quickly put out of their heads in favour of a marriage. The Fijian girls are slightly more emancipated in their views, even though for the Fijians the wider family group plays a significant role and can therefore exercise influence over the ideas and behaviour of the girls.

Besides this groups of girls, I questioned boys in the same schools, and distributed a questionnaire among girls who would shortly be graduating from university.

All in all I had an extremely enjoyable time in Fiji and I am currently preparing my dissertation on the basis of the collected data.