The community appeal was launched by content creator and influencer Eliki Dakuitoga to provide emergency financial support to teachers affected by the recent salary stoppage.
The appeal had raised $5,148.01 towards its $33,500 target, with the money intended to provide small emergency support payments to verified affected teachers while their salary issues are being resolved.
Salaba says the initial plan was to distribute the assistance among all 134 affected teachers.
However, after learning that 118 teachers would receive their salaries, Salaba says organisers started discussing whether the money should be shared among all 134 teachers or prioritised for the 16 who were left out.
Salaba says he visited the Ministry of Education headquarters in Suva yesterday to obtain information about the affected teachers so the organisers could verify who should receive assistance.
He says he first approached the Human Resources Department and was directed to seek authorisation from the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Education.
Salaba says he was later told that the Ministry could not provide the information he was seeking because the affected teachers were going to receive their pay.
He says organisers already have a list based on information provided directly by affected teachers, including contact and bank account details.
However, Salaba says they wanted the Ministry's list solely to cross-check their information and ensure money donated by the public goes to the correct people.
He stresses that the organisers do not intend to publish the names of affected teachers, saying accountability and transparency are important because people in Fiji and overseas have contributed to the appeal.
Salaba says some affected teachers were forced to find alternative sources of money while waiting for their salaries, including borrowing from moneylenders and taking out loans.
He says while they are thankful to the Ministry of Education for working with the Ministry of Finance to get payments processed, the salary stoppage has already affected teachers financially and lowered their morale.
On calls for Education Minister Aseri Radrodro to be replaced over the issue, Salaba says there should not be a blame game.
He says the focus now should be on everyone working together to assist the teachers, rebuild their morale and allow them to concentrate on teaching during the final school term.
Salaba says organisers will continue trying to work with the Ministry and affected teachers to complete the verification process and distribute the funds.
He is also calling on the Ministry to address teachers' concerns about their salaries and contracts and provide them with the assistance and clarification they need when they approach the Ministry.
