The President of the Fijian Teachers Association, Netani Druavesi has made claims during the Fijian Teachers Association Delegates Annual Conference that the new education reforms are anti‑iTaukei while Minister for Education, Rosy Akbar has stressed that she will have dialogue with the FTA on all issues and why there have been displacement of school heads.
Druavesi has claimed that 60 percent of the changes in school leadership positions from the Education Ministry have shown displacement of iTaukei teacher leaders.
He went on to say that the introduction of one month to 5 year contracts replacing agreed service tenure system, immediately introduces job insecurity.
Druavesi also claims teachers’ contract are terminated without proper practices of natural justice and adherence to the Ministry's own Fijian Civil Service Disciplinary Guidelines.
Education Minister Rosy Akbar, who was present during the opening statement, says that she will have proper dialogue about issues that have been highlighted by the FTA President and give a clarification on the displacements and the reasons for doing that.
Akbar also highlighted that seniority of teachers, their experience and number of years of service will now be one of the factors that they look at when dealing with the promotion of teachers within the Ministry of Education.
Akbar earlier highlighted that most of the teachers whose contracts have been terminated, was due to corporal punishment used to discipline students.
She says there are counselling procedures in place to address discipline and she encouraged teachers present to use these processes.
The Education Minister also stressed that the Ministry has zero tolerance for corporal punishment and as times have changed the counselling process in place is there to discipline students and protect teachers.
Also present at the event were SODELPA MP, Ro Teimumu Kepa, Fiji Trades Union Congress National Secretary, Felix Anthony and FTUC Assistant National Secretary, Attar Singh.
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