In early January 2026 the Higher Education Commission Fiji (HECF) issued a formal public directive requiring all unauthorised overseas study agents and education recruiters operating in Fiji to immediately cease operations, citing non-compliance with national higher education legislation.
In a notice published on its official website, the Commission stated that it had identified a number of individuals and entities advertising, recruiting, or facilitating overseas study opportunities without being registered or approved under the Higher Education Act 2008 and Higher Education Amendment Act 2018. The Commission warned that any continued operation by unapproved agents may result in enforcement action, including penalties and possible prosecution.
Under Fiji’s regulatory framework, all entities involved in student recruitment activities—including those promoting overseas institutions—are required to obtain formal approval from the Commission before engaging with students or parents.
The directive follows growing concern about the presence of foreign recruiters entering the Fijian market for short periods to recruit students, often without a local legal presence or regulatory oversight. According to public statements reported by FBC News, the Commission has received reports of students being taken overseas by agents and subsequently abandoned, or placed into institutions without adequate support or verification. HECF Chari Steve Chand said:
We are now bringing the hammer down to ensure this does not happen to anyone else.
The Commission also urged parents and students to independently verify the registration status of any education agent or overseas institution before entering into agreements or making payments to study abroad.
This enforcement action forms part of the Commission’s broader regulatory mandate to maintain the integrity of higher education pathways available to Fijian students. In recent years, the HEC has issued multiple public warnings concerning unaccredited programs and misleading recruitment practices, including the promotion of qualifications that are not formally recognised.
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