FTU claims more than 500 teachers are in isolation

The General Secretary of the Fiji Teachers Union Agni Deo Singh claims more than 500 teachers are in isolation as they have either contracted COVID-19 or are primary contacts.

Singh is questioning how the Ministry of Education will manage the situation.

He says based on progress reports that they have received, teacher absenteeism due to illness was 50 percent in some schools last week.

Singh says they are still inundated with calls from all over the country with students and teachers contracting COVID-19 in schools.

He adds the Minister for Education needs to put her ego aside and seriously consider the gravity of the situation on the ground.

The Fijian Teachers Association is also calling on the Ministry to reveal the number of students and teachers that have tested positive for COVID-19 in schools.

General Secretary Paula Manumanunitoga says lives are more important than schools.

Manumanunitoga says they strongly suggested that the opening of schools be postponed as everyone is worried about the increase in the number of cases of COVID-19.

We have sent questions to the Minister for Education Premila Kumar and the Permanent Secretary for Education Dr Anjeela Jokhan.

They are yet to respond.