The Fiji Teachers Union says they have made an application to the Employment Court to grant a stay on the processing of posts under the Minimum Qualification Requirement for promotion and appointment to Heads of Secondary positions till court proceedings are concluded and a ruling is delivered.
General Secretary Agni Deo Singh says they believe the decision is unfair, unjustified and discriminatory and shows total disregard of their own policies.
Singh says they have submitted that any change to the existing Minimum Qualification Requirement that had been deemed suitable all these years must remain and no change was made without consultation with the teacher unions.
He further adds they have submitted that those who already possess an equivalent qualification that is a degree in the relevant subjects plus the teacher training component must not be eliminated.
Singh also says they demand that the Ministry immediately withdraw this decision and stick to the existing Minimum Qualification Requirement and the union will not accept anything less.
He highlighted that while they encourage teachers to upgrade their qualification, the union firmly believes that relevant experience and proven track record must be given due recognition.
We have sent questions to the Education Minister and the PS for Education. They are yet to respond.
