OMRS is currently being reviewed – Radrodro

The Ministry of Education is currently in the process of reviewing the Open Merit Recruitment System as a lot of teachers have raised concerns about the integrity and fairness of this system.

While responding to the question by FijiFirst MP Hem Chand on what basis the new teachers were recruited in school this year and how many, Radrodro says some teachers up till today are still seeking justice for disparity, and the issues are worrying.

He says these issues have pointed to a flawed system.

Radrodro says the Ministry is undertaking a review of the OMRS system in consultation with the Public Service Commission and the review will accommodate the policy changes of government like the removal of contracts, the extension of the retirement age to 60 years and the removal of the no jab no job policy.

The Minister also highlighted that they continue to have challenges with the shortage of teachers and are working hard to resolve the issue.

He says the basis of recruitment for new teachers this year is through resignations where 377 teachers resigned in total to date, through deaths, new establishments and new streams added to schools.

Radrodro also says they are in the finishing stages of their investigation on teachers, who were allegedly campaigning in the recent elections and disciplinary actions will be taken.

When questioned by Chand on how many schools have a shortage of teachers, the Minister claimed that Chand created the mess we are in as he was the former Head of Human Resources of the Ministry of Education.