TVET staff who will be made redundant can apply for positions with the Education Ministry – Akbar

Minister for Education Rosy Akbar says the Technical College of Fiji staff who will be made redundant are free to apply for a position within the Ministry of Education however General Secretary of the Fiji Teachers Confederation, Agni Deo Singh says they have filed a dispute in the Employment Court.

While speaking in Parliament, Akbar says they will be considered for the position next year.

The contracts of 247 Technical College of Fiji staff will expire at the end of this year as they are on temporary contracts.

Akbar says all staff were given the opportunity to decide to remain with the Education Ministry or join FNU when the technical colleges were being transferred.

Agni Deo Singh says they believe their members have been treated unfairly by this sudden notice that their contracts would not be renewed.

He adds they had a legitimate expectation that their employment would continue when they join the technical colleges after having served the ministry.

The Technical College of Fiji has a total of 323 staff, of which 179 are teaching and 144 are the non-teaching staff.