Education Minister Rosy Akbar says that maybe because of a lack of interest of students for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths subjects, they are facing a shortage of teachers for those subjects.
She made the comment while speaking at the Robocon launch at the USP School of Engineering and Physics.
The Education Minister also said that Fiji has also recognised this need as it lacks skilled engineers to contribute to the growing economy whether they help build roads and bridges, new machinery or even buildings which are Cyclone Category 5 proof.
She says we also need to break down the barriers of gender stereotyping in some professions including engineering.
Akbar says in order to promote an increased uptake in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths subjects at universities, we need those same universities to train new teachers who will inspire our next generation of engineers, statisticians, software programmers, app developers and climate change scientists.
She says the Education Ministry has been working with the School of Education and USP Pacific TAFE to address this as they need them to up their game in this area.
Late last year, Permanent Secretary for Education Allison Burchell had pointed out in a letter sent to all school heads that there is an immediate shortage of teachers in secondary schools with a degree or diploma in Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Chemistry and Industrial Arts.
In that letter, Burchell also said that based on workforce planning they anticipate that these shortages will continue for the foreseeable future.
She also asked school heads and career counselors for their support in these priority areas as they work with senior students who may see an opportunity in the teaching profession.
She said the Education Ministry was working with the teacher training institutions, Fiji Higher Education Commission and Tertiary Education Loans Board to address the skills shortage.
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