A Ministry of Education officer is set to face disciplinary action after facilitating a visit by a church group to Natabua High School without the Ministry's approval.
The development comes after a video circulated on social media showing a member of the visiting group appearing to single out a student because of his faith during a school session that happened this week.
Education Minister Aseri Radrodro says he has directed Permanent Secretary for Education, Navin Raj to take the necessary action against the education officer who arranged the visit without following the Ministry's approval process.
He says the Ministry's approval procedures exist to safeguard students and ensure all activities conducted in schools are appropriate, respectful and consistent with Fiji's education policies.
The Minister says an investigation will establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident, determine whether any Ministry policies or procedures were breached, and identify any appropriate administrative action.
The Ministry has also confirmed that the visiting Steadfast Baptist Church group consisted of members from Houston, Texas, in the United States, together with a United States national residing in the Philippines.
Radrodro also met representatives of the United States Embassy this morning to discuss the matter.
According to the Ministry, embassy officials confirmed they had no prior knowledge of, or involvement in, the group's visit or activities in Fiji.
The Ministry is reminding organisations and individuals that prior written approval must be obtained before conducting activities or engaging with students on school premises.
They also say parental consent is required where activities involve photography, filming or the publication of students' images.
The investigation follows widespread concern over a video circulating on social media that appears to show Christian preacher and content creator Osaslugo addressing students at Natabua High School before calling attention to a student identified as Muslim and telling him that because he does not follow Jesus Christ or Christianity, he will not go to heaven.
The footage has sparked criticism online, with many questioning how the preacher was allowed to address students during school hours and whether the visit had been approved.
A parent whose child attended the session told fijivillage News that families were neither informed nor asked for consent before the preacher addressed students and only became aware of the incident after the video appeared online.
