250 new teachers to be recruited next year

The Education Ministry is expecting 250 teachers to be recruited next year.

Minister Rosy Akbar has told parliament that based on the projected exits and the need for 2021, the Education Ministry has planned to recruit 65 early childhood education teachers, 90 primary and special and inclusive education teachers and 95 secondary school teachers.

She says classroom teacher recruitment is conducted on a need basis.

Akbar says this usually addresses vacancies created through retirement, resignation, deemed to have resigned due to abandonment of duties, summary dismissal and leaves such as study leave or medical board review.

SODELPA MP Mikaele Leawere then asked if teachers who have resigned to join other professions could apply for those positions.

He says some cabin crew with Fiji Airways were previously teachers and would want to come back and apply.

Akbar says they follow the open merit recruitment system and people can apply and go through the processes before being part of these vacancies that will arise.

Another SODELPA MP Lynda Tabuya asked if Akbar could explain why early childhood education teachers are not paid like primary and secondary school teachers where they are not recognised on the same grade.

Akbar requested if she could provide a written response to Tabuya at the end of this week.