We cannot recruit every graduate - Kumar

Minister for Education Premila Kumar says since around 300 teachers leave the service every year and 700 teachers graduate, it is not possible for the Ministry to recruit every student who graduates.

While speaking at the teachers retirees’ function in Labasa, Kumar says like any other employer they are looking to recruit the best graduates.

She says to be fair to all graduates, this is why they are conducting written job tests and interviews.

Kumar says a degree alone is not enough unless a person has done education courses.

The Minister says there was a lot of criticism that the Ministry was going to replace all certificate and diploma holders however she says this is not correct.

Kumar says the concern is that there are more than 1,000 teachers who have limited authority to teach.

She says the registrations are done every year which means teachers need to upgrade their qualifications but they have not done so since 2009.

Kumar adds according to the Teachers Registration Act, they cannot allow a teacher to teach if they do not attain the required qualifications.