The Education Ministry has today come out and said that there is no controversy surrounding the Principal of Suva Grammar School as claimed by SODELPA MP, Mikaele Leawere.
Leawere has said in a statement that the Fiji First Government and the Ministry of Education should respect the faith based schools in Fiji.
He then says that the call comes in reaction to the controversy surrounding the Principal of Suva Grammar.
When questioned by Fijivillage on whether he knows that Suva Grammar is not a faith based school, Leawere then said that he knows that however his concern is that the current Principal was not wanted by Jai Narayan College and was then moved to Suva Grammar.
Leawere says Suva Grammar School is a big school and the ministry cannot just take a Principal who was not wanted by another school.
On the faith based school appointments, Leawere says religious affiliation can be considered if a person who belongs to the same faith meets the requirements to take up the position at the faith based school.
Permanent Secretary for Education, Iowane Tiko says they will not consider religion when making appointments as the government has an Open Merit Recruitment System.
When asked on why the Ministry gave into the Jai Narayan College management’s demand to change the Principal, Tiko said that they wanted the management to work with a Principal.
