National Federation Party MP Lenora Qereqeretabua says the Government is making random decisions about education without consulting teachers, parents or school owners, however, Education Minister Premila Kumar says the NFP can talk all they want but they cannot take away what the FijiFirst Government has done for the education sector.
While delivering her End of the Week Statement in parliament on the Quality of Education in Fiji, Qereqeretabua says the Education Ministry veers off in one direction and then another, with Ministers and headquarters officials issuing edicts that they all forget about a month later.
She says no action and talk only is how she would describe the many rhetorical statements from the government on education.
Qereqeretabua adds since the Bainimarama coup of December 2006, there have been several haphazard reforms in education and several ministers have come and gone but 15 years on, the Ministry is just like the rest of the Government with no vision and no plan.
She further says leaders communicate their vision and plans to others but in Fiji, none of the key education stakeholders have any idea what is going on.
Qereqeretabua claims the Government shares nothing with education stakeholders.
She says it is the Government’s treatment of teachers in the last few years that has really stood out.
Qereqeretabua says on paper, free education looks enticing like a succulent dish described on a menu but sound is all it is good for.
She further says the reality is that education is not totally free.
The NFP Vice President adds the reality is that despite tuition-free education and free bus fares, parents and guardians still have to spend a lot of money to ensure their children attend school daily.
The NFP MP stresses the next government needs to begin from a position of respect for education stakeholders.
While delivering her response, Education Minister Premila Kumar says as usual there is nothing substantial in what Qereqeretabua has stated and she is only aiming for the next soundbite.
Kumar adds it is very disappointing that Qereqeretabua is trying to diminish free education which has opened doors for countless Fijian children who would not have been able to receive an education.
The Education Minister says they have been consulting widely at every opportunity.
She says the Ministry has a ThinkTank made up of experienced qualified teachers who advice them on the areas they need to work on.
Kumar adds they constantly talk to teachers, heads of schools, parents, school management committees, teacher training institutions, faith-based organisations and principal associations.
She says Qereqeretabua is trying to create mistrust between the Ministry and the teachers.
Kumar adds parents and guardians no longer have to worry about tuition fees, bus fares, textbooks and on top of that fundraising to fix schools.
She says they will be developing an Education Sector Plan which will include resource implications, evaluation strategies and monitoring mechanisms that were missing in the Education Commission Report in 2000.
