Education Ministry says Shamima Ali’s comments are surprising and incorrect while Ali says they have received a lot of concerns

The Ministry of Education says they are surprised by the comments made by Fiji Women's Crisis Centre Coordinator Shamima Ali in a Fiji Times article titled “Ali queries decision to reopen schools,” which the Ministry says are both factually incorrect and nonsensical while Ali says they have received a lot of concerns.

In a statement on its Facebook page, the Education Ministry says in the article Ali had said why are we only listening to international institutions who are out of touch with our cultural context and social norms — making very critical decisions like the reopening of schools.

The Education Ministry says this is factually incorrect as the international institutions being referred to are the World Health Organisation and UNICEF, and they have served as competent authorities on matters such as the COVID pandemic, health and safety measures and related research and data adding this is just not for Fiji but internationally.

They further say that in fact, Ali does not seem to know how such competent international organisations work in their member countries.

The Ministry adds they do not make decisions for the government but provide advice based on scientific data and facts and these are credible institutions and Fiji has been a valued member of the UN system.

They also say if Ali had paid attention, she would have known that the Ministry has been working with both local and international organisations to assess all relevant factors to develop the strategy for the reopening of schools.

It says the Ministry of Health has been working tirelessly managing this pandemic and also guiding the Ministry of Education, on reopening of school during this pandemic.

The Ministry of Education further says who better to offer advice on such matters than the World Health Organisation, whose primary role is to help direct international health efforts for member nations, and to lead partners in global health responses.

The Ministry highlighted that additionally, UNICEF as the United Nations agency responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide, is also eminently equipped to advise on such matters based on data and research collected in many different countries.

They add why did not Ali specify what exactly it was that she meant when she claimed that the Ministry was out of touch.

The Ministry has questioned whether Ali knows that WHO and UNICEF are working within the local context she is referring to.

It also adds that so the question is when Ali says local context, does she mean to succumb to the whims of critics of the government who do not know whether they are coming or going.

Meanwhile, Ali says the response is expected of a government that has lost touch with its people.

Ali says she has not lost touch as people talk to her.

She adds people have called them to seek assurance.

Ali also says there should be more bipartisanship and there should be more listening to civil society organisations and non governmental organisations.