Radrodro accepts FSSRU decision but says a full audit will now be done on school sporting bodies

Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro has today confirmed that he has accepted the decision by the Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Union to not allow Bucalevu Secondary to play in the Deans Rugby quarter final tomorrow, and from now onwards, he says he is going to be directing the Permanent Secretary for Education to review the use of students and teachers' paid or managed by the Ministry, especially non PEMAC teachers utilized by such organisations.

Radrodro says the Ministry will also need to review the use of infrastructure utilized by these sporting bodies and whether they are meeting any costs or the Ministry is meeting all of them.

He says they will have to review the audited accounts of the various sports, especially those using students and teachers. Radrodro says the Ministry of Education cannot continue to accommodate being used without transparency and accountability.

He says he intends to provide a detailed update to the Prime Minister and cabinet on what he has just highlighted on the issues of the use of teachers and students.

Radrodro says whilst he respects the positions taken by Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Union and the concerns by World Rugby as well as the Fiji Referees Association, he will have to demand for accountability and for them to assume responsibility because the relationship has to benefit all parties.

He says he wishes Nabua Secondary all the best for the games, especially the students, and he also offers his deepest apologies to the students of Bucalevu Secondary School and their supporters for the negligence on the part of Secondary Schools Rugby Union which resulted in the overlooking of the proceess of identification where the Heads of Schools participating should have been involved.

Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Union Vice President, Savenaca Muamua made it clear last night that they will stand by their decision and the Nabua Secondary School Under 17 team will play in the Vodafone Super Deans national quarter-final tomorrow.

Radrodro earlier directed the union that Bucalevu Secondary should play instead of Nabua Secondary.

Bucalevu's U17 team was disqualified from the competition after they fielded an Under 16 player.

Muamua says the fixture remains unchanged.

He adds that the FSSRU committee remains firm in its stance and Bucalevu will not play tomorrow.