FTU calls for 20% salary increase across the board for teachers

The Fiji Teachers Union is calling for a 20% across the board salary increase for teachers.

As the 2017/2018 National Budget will be announced tonight, FTU’s General Secretary Agni Deo Singh says apart from this, all Early Childhood teachers should be put on normal Primary School teacher level salary and not on hourly wages.

Singh adds there are teachers who have served for more than 10 years but are on the same salary level with those who have taught for two or three years.

He says based on their service, there should be a staggered increase in salary for teachers who have given long and loyal service to the Ministry of Education.

The Union is also calling for the removal of contractual appointments for teachers and Singh says teachers should be put on a tenure to ensure they have job security which will enable them to get home loans.

The Ministry of Education got $432.2 million in the 2016/2017 National Budget where it was also announced that the base salaries will also increase for teachers.

It was announced last year that base salary for primary school teachers will be $16,610 while the base salary for secondary school teachers will be $23,411.