A school teacher in Nausori is calling on the Ministry of Education and the Fiji Law Reform Commission to put in place a policy or legislation that deals with parents’ negligence towards their children when sending them to school.
The teacher, who refused to be named, made this submission during the Education Act 1966 consultation that was held at the Nausori Parish Hall.
The teacher says there is parental negligence all around, and it is seen with the child’s lunch box and school uniform.
She says she had to write a newsletter this week to parents mentioning mildew uniforms which clearly shows negligence.
She adds that the teachers are in school to work, and the parents, who are the custodians of these children, should do their work in terms of looking after their children’s well-being and discipline.
The teacher says the only thing the teachers can do now is to take Panadol every day, pray very hard and hope that nobody gets jail time.
She further says the reality is that in the village, the children are being punished at home by their parents using sticks and belts, but the teachers are taken to court if they do the same to the children in school.
She adds that the child is confused when he or she comes to school, because at home when they disobey their parents, they get all sorts of hiding.
The teacher says, so in school, the teachers have to refrain from pinching, or even from glaring at the child, but there comes a time for the teachers, when they lose their temper because the pressure on them is too high.
The Education Act 1966 consultation was held in Levuka town today.
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