There is no such thing as charging students $20 for not wearing masks or wearing it improperly in school – Education Minister

Minister for Education, Premila Kumar says there is no such thing as charging students $20 for not wearing masks or wearing it improperly in schools.

Kumar highlighted this after questions were asked about students of a prominent school in Nausori allegedly being charged $20 for not wearing a mask or wearing it improperly.

Kumar says the Ministry is distributing masks to schools and their intention is to give as many masks to as many schools to ensure students have access to masks.

She says charging or putting a cost for not wearing a mask is unacceptable.

The Minister says if anyone wants to lodge a complaint, the rightful authority would be the Ministry of Health and they will be able to deal with it.

Questions were also asked about some teachers finding it difficult to teach with their masks on.

Kumar says they are being guided by the Ministry of Health where a technical working group made up of the Education and Health Ministries have formulated the protocols for reopening of schools.