Education has figured prominently in the development of modern Fiji. Under British rule there was a rapid post war expansion of both primary and secondary education, and since independence was granted in 1970 the Fiji government maintains the same commitment to education, partly in response to population demand and partly in response to the need for a skilled labour force. Progress has been impressive, but the overall quality of the schools leaves much to be desired, despite government efforts to improve the quality of the teachers and to make the curriculum more relevant to current needs. The principle of social equity has also featured in educational policy, but a major stumbling block is the quota system, where students are allotted places at the University of the South Pacific on a racial basis. This study highlights important issues that remain unresolved as well as the nature of the challenge that lies ahead. Despite its minute size Fiji provides a classic example of the many contemporary educational problems experienced in the third world. This study examines them in detail and also focuses attention on the South Pacific, hitherto a largely neglected but now an increasingly significant corner of the globe.