Opposition MP Premila Kumar says Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka should consider replacing Education Minister Aseri Radrodro if he cannot resolve what she describes as recurring salary and allowance issues affecting teachers and their pay.
Kumar says teachers should not have to chase the Government for money they have already earned and should not be punished for administrative failures within the Ministry of Education.
She says teachers were paid only up to Pay 18, with payments subsequently stopped after a Ministry audit reportedly found that some signed contracts had not been returned.
Kumar has questioned where the systems and people responsible for ensuring these contracts are properly processed are.
She says there are Heads of Schools and Divisional Heads in all four divisions, and if administrative problems are occurring on this scale, they should have been identified and resolved earlier.
Kumar claims that teachers who graduated in 2024 and submitted applications for salary upgrades, along with their degrees and university letters confirming completion of their studies, are still waiting for payment.
She says Education Minister Aseri Radrodro had confirmed that 273 teachers would be paid, subject to the availability of funds.
The Opposition MP also raised concerns about teachers taking additional classes because of teacher shortages and those serving in acting positions who she says are still waiting for allowances and other payments.
Kumar says the latest situation follows previous reports of salary and allowance problems affecting teachers.
She says Radrodro announced last month that salary arrears for 318 Ministry of Education staff were being expedited through Pay 17 and Pay 18, with the Ministry saying the delays were associated with internal processing and compliance requirements.
Kumar says the Fijian Teachers Association has also publicly raised concerns about salary and allowance delays affecting teachers.
She says while teachers must comply with the Civil Service Code of Conduct and follow proper administrative channels, questions need to be asked about what happens when those channels do not work.
Kumar has also questioned what teachers are expected to do when their grievances are repeatedly raised but remain unresolved by the Ministry.
She says they understand some teachers have even written to the Prime Minister’s Office seeking assistance.
Kumar has also questioned the role of Minister for Employment Agni Deo Singh, saying workers’ rights cannot be selective and teachers employed by the Government should not be ignored.
She says teachers should not be portrayed as irresponsible for allegedly failing to submit documents, sign contracts or follow procedures if they have already provided the required documentation and it has not been processed by the Ministry.
Kumar says if teachers have submitted all the required documentation and the paperwork is sitting somewhere within the Ministry, they should not be punished for the Ministry’s failure to process it.
We have sent questions to the Ministry of Education seeking a response to Kumar’s concerns.
