FTA maintains 26 teachers affected in Acting Heads of Schools issue while Radrodro says there were 7By Pita Toganivalu 08/09/2026
The Fijian Teachers Association maintains that 26 teachers are affected by the Acting Heads of Schools issue, despite the Ministry of Education saying that only seven names were discussed during a meeting with teacher unions.
FTA General Secretary Paula Manumanunitoga says the Ministry acknowledged during their meeting that mistakes had been made and should now focus on rectifying the issue rather than disputing the number of affected teachers.
When fijivillage News asked whether the 7 names provided to the Ministry represented the actual number of affected teachers rather than the 26 previously stated, Manumanunitoga maintained that 26 teachers are affected.
He says the Ministry is now trying to defend its position, despite acknowledging during the meeting that mistakes had been made.
He adds that a position becomes vacant when the substantive post holder leaves the position, including through resignation, migration or death, and the Ministry can appoint someone to act while it works to permanently fill the vacancy.
Manumanunitoga says the Ministry should advertise a vacant position within six months and claims some of the affected teachers had remained in acting positions well beyond that period.
He claims some teachers had been acting in their positions for three to four years.
Manumanunitoga says mistakes can happen within the system and the matter should now be dealt with professionally and rectified after being raised by the Association.
Earlier, Permanent Secretary for Education Navin Raj said that the issue relates to 7 teachers and not 26 as reported in the media.
Raj says he met with the General Secretaries of the two teacher unions and the Ministry's Human Resources team, where 7Â names were discussed after the information was verified with the FTA General Secretary.
He says acting appointments are not permanent and can be revoked once a substantive post holder is identified to fill a vacant position.
Raj says they also discussed advertising the vacant positions in due course, and he will continue consulting the General Secretaries of the two teacher unions throughout the process.
Meanwhile, Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro says the revocation of acting Headteacher appointments in the Suva Education District is an operational matter and the Ministry is reviewing the appointments in consultation with teacher unions.
Insert:Â Radrodro on 26 Revoke 28th Aug 26
Radrodro says Fiji has more than 730 primary schools requiring Headteacher positions, while there are 190 secondary schools that also require school heads.
He says resignations, transfers, retirements and teachers leaving the service for other opportunities continue to create vacancies that need to be filled.
Radrodro says he has directed the Appointment Secretary to address the vacancies as soon as possible while following the required human resource recruitment process.
FTA questions Ministry of Education job advertisement over missing school detailsBy Pita Toganivalu 08/09/2026
The Fijian Teachers Association is questioning the Ministry of Education’s latest job advertisement, saying teachers have been left confused because it does not list the names of schools with vacancies, their locations, post advertisement numbers or brief details of the positions, and instead requires applicants to cross-reference FEMIS for the information.
FTA General Secretary Paula Manumanunitoga says the unions are disappointed with the Ministry's advertisement published on Saturday, August 29th.
The Fiji Education Management Information System (FEMIS) is a web-based application developed by the Ministry of Education, Heritage and Arts (MoEHA) in Fiji.
He says interested applicants are unsure about which schools they want to apply to because key information about the advertised vacancies was not included.
Manumanunitoga is questioning why the complete list of schools could not have been included in the newspaper advertisement instead of requiring teachers to access FEMIS for further details.
He says many aspiring and eligible candidates could miss out if they face internet connectivity issues and are unable to access FEMIS.
The FTA General Secretary says this is particularly concerning as teachers are currently on school holidays, with some spending their break in villages and maritime areas where internet access may be limited.
He says requiring teachers to cross-reference FEMIS unnecessarily complicates the process and is calling on the Ministry to simplify it by publishing complete advertisements containing the school names, locations, post advertisement numbers and other relevant details.
fijivillage News has contacted the Ministry of Education for a response.
Kumar calls for Radrodro to be replaced if he cannot resolve teachers’ pay issuesBy Karishma Kumari 08/09/2026
Opposition MP Premila Kumar says Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka should consider replacing Education Minister Aseri Radrodro if he cannot resolve what she describes as recurring salary and allowance issues affecting teachers and their pay.
Kumar says teachers should not have to chase the Government for money they have already earned and should not be punished for administrative failures within the Ministry of Education.
She says teachers were paid only up to Pay 18, with payments subsequently stopped after a Ministry audit reportedly found that some signed contracts had not been returned.
Kumar has questioned where the systems and people responsible for ensuring these contracts are properly processed are.
She says there are Heads of Schools and Divisional Heads in all four divisions, and if administrative problems are occurring on this scale, they should have been identified and resolved earlier.
Kumar claims that teachers who graduated in 2024 and submitted applications for salary upgrades, along with their degrees and university letters confirming completion of their studies, are still waiting for payment.
She says Education Minister Aseri Radrodro had confirmed that 273 teachers would be paid, subject to the availability of funds.
The Opposition MP also raised concerns about teachers taking additional classes because of teacher shortages and those serving in acting positions who she says are still waiting for allowances and other payments.
Kumar says the latest situation follows previous reports of salary and allowance problems affecting teachers.
She says Radrodro announced last month that salary arrears for 318 Ministry of Education staff were being expedited through Pay 17 and Pay 18, with the Ministry saying the delays were associated with internal processing and compliance requirements.
Kumar says the Fijian Teachers Association has also publicly raised concerns about salary and allowance delays affecting teachers.
She says while teachers must comply with the Civil Service Code of Conduct and follow proper administrative channels, questions need to be asked about what happens when those channels do not work.
Kumar has also questioned what teachers are expected to do when their grievances are repeatedly raised but remain unresolved by the Ministry.
She says they understand some teachers have even written to the Prime Minister’s Office seeking assistance.
Kumar has also questioned the role of Minister for Employment Agni Deo Singh, saying workers’ rights cannot be selective and teachers employed by the Government should not be ignored.
She says teachers should not be portrayed as irresponsible for allegedly failing to submit documents, sign contracts or follow procedures if they have already provided the required documentation and it has not been processed by the Ministry.
Kumar says if teachers have submitted all the required documentation and the paperwork is sitting somewhere within the Ministry, they should not be punished for the Ministry’s failure to process it.
We have sent questions to the Ministry of Education seeking a response to Kumar’s concerns.
More than $5,000 raised in community appeal for 134 teachers affected by salary stoppageBy Pita Toganivalu 08/09/2026
More than $5,000 has been raised through a community appeal launched by content creator and influencer Eliki Dakuitoga to provide emergency financial support to teachers affected by the recent salary stoppage.
The $5 for Our Teachers appeal has so far raised $5,148.01 towards a target of $33,500, with $28,351.99 still needed to reach the target.
Dakuitoga says the appeal is aimed at providing a small emergency support payment to verified affected teachers while their salary issues are being sorted out.
He stresses that the assistance is not intended to replace the teachers' salaries and does not remove the Government's responsibility to resolve the matter.
Dakuitoga says Transparent Accounting & Consulting Service Pte Limited is receiving, controlling, recording and reconciling all funds donated to the appeal and will provide public financial updates and a final acquittal.
He says Apisai Salaba, who is representing the affected teachers, will work with them to form a committee that will help verify beneficiaries, guide the distribution of assistance and discuss the way forward.
Dakuitoga has also clarified that he does not personally receive or control the funds, decide which teachers receive assistance or personally disburse the money.
He says his role is to facilitate the initiative, use his platform to raise awareness, connect the parties involved and continue providing verified updates to the public.
Dakuitoga says the initiative is an independent humanitarian community appeal and is not connected to any political party, candidate or election campaign.
Affected teachers have been advised to keep their employment and identification documents ready, with a verification process expected to be announced before any assistance is released.
The appeal follows Dakuitoga raising concerns over 134 teachers not receiving their salaries.
He says if a teacher failed to submit a required document, they should be clearly informed so the issue can be corrected.
However, Dakuitoga says if a teacher signed and submitted the required documents but they were not properly processed somewhere between the school, district office and Ministry headquarters, those responsible should take ownership.
He says when 134 salaries are stopped at the same time, it raises serious questions about whether something within the system has failed.
Inser: Eliki on teacher issue 7th Sept 26 PT
He says administrative processes are supposed to serve people and people should not be left suffering because of a process that is not working properly.
Dakuitoga says the community appeal is about ordinary Fijians providing some immediate support to affected teachers while the authorities work to resolve their salary issues.
Radrodro hits back at Kumar over Education Ministry issuesPS to seek assistance to process payments immediately
By Karishma Kumari 08/09/2026
Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro has hit back at Opposition MP and former Education Minister Premila Kumar, saying she should be the last person to speak on issues concerning the Ministry of Education.
In response to Kumar's comments that Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka should consider replacing Radrodro if he cannot resolve what she describes as recurring salary and allowance issues affecting teachers, Radrodro claims the Ministry is still trying to address issues left behind by Kumar and her former Director of Human Resources.
He says some officers were appointed during their tenure, and the Ministry now has to work with them and teach them how to operate professionally and do things correctly.
Radrodro also says he is still dealing with cases involving teachers who have remained unpaid for several years, including during Kumar's tenure as Education Minister.
He says the difference under the Coalition Government is that teachers are now allowed to speak up about their grievances, either through their teacher unions or by communicating directly with his office.
He claims that during Kumar's tenure, teachers were scared to publicly voice their complaints and the two teacher unions were ignored.
Radrodro says his office does its best to address concerns raised by teachers.
On the current pay issues affecting teachers, Radrodro says he has instructed the Permanent Secretary for Education to seek assistance from the Permanent Secretary for Finance to have the affected teachers' payments processed immediately.
Radrodro directs immediate processing of affected teachers' paymentsBy Karishma Kumari 08/09/2026
Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro has confirmed that he has instructed the Permanent Secretary for Education to seek assistance from the Permanent Secretary for Finance to have the affected teachers' payments processed immediately.
He says that his office does its best to address concerns raised by the teachers.
In response to Opposition MP and former Education Minister Premila Kumar's comments that Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka should consider replacing Radrodro if he cannot resolve what she describes as recurring salary and allowance issues affecting teachers, Radrodro says Kumar should be the last person to speak on issues concerning the Ministry of Education as they are still trying to address issues left behind by Kumar and her former Director of Human Resources.
Radrodro says some officers were appointed during their tenure, and the Ministry now has to work with them and teach them how to operate professionally and do things correctly.
Radrodro says he is still dealing with cases involving teachers who have remained unpaid for several years, including during Kumar's tenure as Education Minister.
He adds that the difference under the Coalition Government is that teachers are now allowed to speak up about their grievances, either through their teacher unions or by communicating directly with his office.
He claims that during Kumar's tenure, teachers were scared to publicly voice their complaints and the two teacher unions were ignored.
118 teachers to receive salaries today through special pay run, questions remain over other 16By Pita Toganivalu 08/09/2026
Good news as 118 teachers affected by the recent salary stoppage are expected to receive their salaries today through a special pay run, however, questions remain over when the other 16 affected teachers will be paid.
Permanent Secretary for Finance Shiri Gounder has confirmed to fijivillage News that the Ministry is assisting the Ministry of Education with a special pay run to process the salaries of 118 teachers today.
This comes after Fijian Teachers Union General Secretary Paula Manumanunitoga posted on his Facebook page that he had received a call from the Permanent Secretary for Education confirming that all 118 teachers whose pay was suspended last week would receive it today.
The 118 teachers are among the 134 teachers affected by the salary issue.
This leaves questions over the remaining 16 teachers and when their salaries will be processed.
fijivillage News has asked the Ministry of Education on when the remaining teachers are expected to get their pay.
We are awaiting their response.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education is expected to hold a press conference this afternoon, where further details on the teachers' salary issue are expected to be provided.
Affected teachers to receive outstanding pay today, serious concerns raised on why teachers are not being paid on timeBy Karishma Kumari 08/09/2026
114 teachers affected by the recent salary stoppage are expected to receive their outstanding pay this afternoon, while another 20 will be paid once they submit their signed employment contracts by tomorrow.
Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro says some affected teachers have already submitted their employment contracts, allowing their salaries to be processed, while others are yet to do so.
However, the Ministry is yet to determine the total number of teachers in Fiji yet to be paid by the Ministry of Education.Â
He says the Ministry is continuing its verification process, while officers are contacting teachers who have yet to provide documents requested by the Ministry's Human Resources Department.
Radrodro says the outstanding documents, including signed employment contracts, need to be submitted by tomorrow to allow the Ministry to complete the verification process and facilitate salary payments.
Radrodro says the Ministry's Human Resources and Finance teams are working to ensure the outstanding documents are received as soon as possible.
He says according to the Ministry's analysis, those affected include 30 school heads, three assistant head teachers, 47 primary school teachers, one assistant principal, 34 secondary school teachers, five technical teachers and nine non-teaching administrative officers.
As we start the third term of school, serious concerns have been raised on why some teachers have not been paid for weeks although they are teaching in the classroom.
Questions are also being raised on what is being done to fix this human resource and finance issue as the budget is already provided to pay the teachers by the Ministry of Finance.
When questioned about salary upgrades for graduate teachers, Radrodro says this remains a work in progress.
He says the Ministry needs to establish the proper process for the payment of the additional salary upgrades for all eligible teachers.
This has come up after some teachers contacted us, saying that they had upgraded their qualifications from diploma to degree level however their salaries are yet to be upgraded by the ministry.
Education Ministry will explore options to recover payments from 13 ghost employeesBy Karishma Kumari 08/09/2026
The Ministry of Education will explore all available options to recover salary payments made to 13 ghost employees after they were identified through an auditing and verification process.
While responding to questions during a press conference, Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro said the recovery is allowable under the Government Financial Management Act, and there are various forms of recovery that can be explored.
The Minister says the issue was first highlighted in the 2024 Auditor-General’s report, and there is an ongoing process of verification and auditing.
Meanwhile, Deputy Secretary for Education Timoci Bure says this issue could have been due to communication from the schools to Human Resources, as there were some officers who left the system without advising the Ministry of Education.
He says some of these movements happened years ago, and the system could not pick up those movements.
However, Permanent Secretary for Education Navin Raj says the total amount paid to the 13 ghost employees is not available yet and would be provided after the verification process.
The Fijian Teachers Association maintains that 26 teachers are affected by the Acting Heads of Schools issue, despite the Ministry of Education saying that only seven names were discussed during a meeting with teacher unions.
FTA General Secretary Paula Manumanunitoga says the Ministry acknowledged during their meeting that mistakes had been made and should now focus on rectifying the issue rather than disputing the number of affected teachers.
When fijivillage News asked whether the 7 names provided to the Ministry represented the actual number of affected teachers rather than the 26 previously stated, Manumanunitoga maintained that 26 teachers are affected.
He says the Ministry is now trying to defend its position, despite acknowledging during the meeting that mistakes had been made.
He adds that a position becomes vacant when the substantive post holder leaves the position, including through resignation, migration or death, and the Ministry can appoint someone to act while it works to permanently fill the vacancy.
Manumanunitoga says the Ministry should advertise a vacant position within six months and claims some of the affected teachers had remained in acting positions well beyond that period.
He claims some teachers had been acting in their positions for three to four years.
Manumanunitoga says mistakes can happen within the system and the matter should now be dealt with professionally and rectified after being raised by the Association.
Earlier, Permanent Secretary for Education Navin Raj said that the issue relates to 7 teachers and not 26 as reported in the media.
Raj says he met with the General Secretaries of the two teacher unions and the Ministry's Human Resources team, where 7Â names were discussed after the information was verified with the FTA General Secretary.
He says acting appointments are not permanent and can be revoked once a substantive post holder is identified to fill a vacant position.
Raj says they also discussed advertising the vacant positions in due course, and he will continue consulting the General Secretaries of the two teacher unions throughout the process.
Meanwhile, Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro says the revocation of acting Headteacher appointments in the Suva Education District is an operational matter and the Ministry is reviewing the appointments in consultation with teacher unions.
Insert:Â Radrodro on 26 Revoke 28th Aug 26
Radrodro says Fiji has more than 730 primary schools requiring Headteacher positions, while there are 190 secondary schools that also require school heads.
He says resignations, transfers, retirements and teachers leaving the service for other opportunities continue to create vacancies that need to be filled.
Radrodro says he has directed the Appointment Secretary to address the vacancies as soon as possible while following the required human resource recruitment process.
FTA General Secretary Paula Manumanunitoga says the unions are disappointed with the Ministry's advertisement published on Saturday, August 29th.
The Fiji Education Management Information System (FEMIS) is a web-based application developed by the Ministry of Education, Heritage and Arts (MoEHA) in Fiji.
He says interested applicants are unsure about which schools they want to apply to because key information about the advertised vacancies was not included.
Manumanunitoga is questioning why the complete list of schools could not have been included in the newspaper advertisement instead of requiring teachers to access FEMIS for further details.
He says many aspiring and eligible candidates could miss out if they face internet connectivity issues and are unable to access FEMIS.
The FTA General Secretary says this is particularly concerning as teachers are currently on school holidays, with some spending their break in villages and maritime areas where internet access may be limited.
He says requiring teachers to cross-reference FEMIS unnecessarily complicates the process and is calling on the Ministry to simplify it by publishing complete advertisements containing the school names, locations, post advertisement numbers and other relevant details.
fijivillage News has contacted the Ministry of Education for a response.
Kumar calls for Radrodro to be replaced if he cannot resolve teachers’ pay issuesBy Karishma Kumari 08/09/2026Opposition MP Premila Kumar says Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka should consider replacing Education Minister Aseri Radrodro if he cannot resolve what she describes as recurring salary and allowance issues affecting teachers and their pay.
Kumar says teachers should not have to chase the Government for money they have already earned and should not be punished for administrative failures within the Ministry of Education.
She says teachers were paid only up to Pay 18, with payments subsequently stopped after a Ministry audit reportedly found that some signed contracts had not been returned.
Kumar has questioned where the systems and people responsible for ensuring these contracts are properly processed are.
She says there are Heads of Schools and Divisional Heads in all four divisions, and if administrative problems are occurring on this scale, they should have been identified and resolved earlier.
Kumar claims that teachers who graduated in 2024 and submitted applications for salary upgrades, along with their degrees and university letters confirming completion of their studies, are still waiting for payment.
She says Education Minister Aseri Radrodro had confirmed that 273 teachers would be paid, subject to the availability of funds.
The Opposition MP also raised concerns about teachers taking additional classes because of teacher shortages and those serving in acting positions who she says are still waiting for allowances and other payments.
Kumar says the latest situation follows previous reports of salary and allowance problems affecting teachers.
She says Radrodro announced last month that salary arrears for 318 Ministry of Education staff were being expedited through Pay 17 and Pay 18, with the Ministry saying the delays were associated with internal processing and compliance requirements.
Kumar says the Fijian Teachers Association has also publicly raised concerns about salary and allowance delays affecting teachers.
She says while teachers must comply with the Civil Service Code of Conduct and follow proper administrative channels, questions need to be asked about what happens when those channels do not work.
Kumar has also questioned what teachers are expected to do when their grievances are repeatedly raised but remain unresolved by the Ministry.
She says they understand some teachers have even written to the Prime Minister’s Office seeking assistance.
Kumar has also questioned the role of Minister for Employment Agni Deo Singh, saying workers’ rights cannot be selective and teachers employed by the Government should not be ignored.
She says teachers should not be portrayed as irresponsible for allegedly failing to submit documents, sign contracts or follow procedures if they have already provided the required documentation and it has not been processed by the Ministry.
Kumar says if teachers have submitted all the required documentation and the paperwork is sitting somewhere within the Ministry, they should not be punished for the Ministry’s failure to process it.
We have sent questions to the Ministry of Education seeking a response to Kumar’s concerns.
More than $5,000 raised in community appeal for 134 teachers affected by salary stoppageBy Pita Toganivalu 08/09/2026More than $5,000 has been raised through a community appeal launched by content creator and influencer Eliki Dakuitoga to provide emergency financial support to teachers affected by the recent salary stoppage.
The $5 for Our Teachers appeal has so far raised $5,148.01 towards a target of $33,500, with $28,351.99 still needed to reach the target.
Dakuitoga says the appeal is aimed at providing a small emergency support payment to verified affected teachers while their salary issues are being sorted out.
He stresses that the assistance is not intended to replace the teachers' salaries and does not remove the Government's responsibility to resolve the matter.
Dakuitoga says Transparent Accounting & Consulting Service Pte Limited is receiving, controlling, recording and reconciling all funds donated to the appeal and will provide public financial updates and a final acquittal.
He says Apisai Salaba, who is representing the affected teachers, will work with them to form a committee that will help verify beneficiaries, guide the distribution of assistance and discuss the way forward.
Dakuitoga has also clarified that he does not personally receive or control the funds, decide which teachers receive assistance or personally disburse the money.
He says his role is to facilitate the initiative, use his platform to raise awareness, connect the parties involved and continue providing verified updates to the public.
Dakuitoga says the initiative is an independent humanitarian community appeal and is not connected to any political party, candidate or election campaign.
Affected teachers have been advised to keep their employment and identification documents ready, with a verification process expected to be announced before any assistance is released.
The appeal follows Dakuitoga raising concerns over 134 teachers not receiving their salaries.
He says if a teacher failed to submit a required document, they should be clearly informed so the issue can be corrected.
However, Dakuitoga says if a teacher signed and submitted the required documents but they were not properly processed somewhere between the school, district office and Ministry headquarters, those responsible should take ownership.
He says when 134 salaries are stopped at the same time, it raises serious questions about whether something within the system has failed.
Inser: Eliki on teacher issue 7th Sept 26 PT
He says administrative processes are supposed to serve people and people should not be left suffering because of a process that is not working properly.
Dakuitoga says the community appeal is about ordinary Fijians providing some immediate support to affected teachers while the authorities work to resolve their salary issues.
Radrodro hits back at Kumar over Education Ministry issuesPS to seek assistance to process payments immediately
By Karishma Kumari 08/09/2026Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro has hit back at Opposition MP and former Education Minister Premila Kumar, saying she should be the last person to speak on issues concerning the Ministry of Education.
In response to Kumar's comments that Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka should consider replacing Radrodro if he cannot resolve what she describes as recurring salary and allowance issues affecting teachers, Radrodro claims the Ministry is still trying to address issues left behind by Kumar and her former Director of Human Resources.
He says some officers were appointed during their tenure, and the Ministry now has to work with them and teach them how to operate professionally and do things correctly.
Radrodro also says he is still dealing with cases involving teachers who have remained unpaid for several years, including during Kumar's tenure as Education Minister.
He says the difference under the Coalition Government is that teachers are now allowed to speak up about their grievances, either through their teacher unions or by communicating directly with his office.
He claims that during Kumar's tenure, teachers were scared to publicly voice their complaints and the two teacher unions were ignored.
Radrodro says his office does its best to address concerns raised by teachers.
On the current pay issues affecting teachers, Radrodro says he has instructed the Permanent Secretary for Education to seek assistance from the Permanent Secretary for Finance to have the affected teachers' payments processed immediately.
Radrodro directs immediate processing of affected teachers' paymentsBy Karishma Kumari 08/09/2026Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro has confirmed that he has instructed the Permanent Secretary for Education to seek assistance from the Permanent Secretary for Finance to have the affected teachers' payments processed immediately.
He says that his office does its best to address concerns raised by the teachers.
In response to Opposition MP and former Education Minister Premila Kumar's comments that Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka should consider replacing Radrodro if he cannot resolve what she describes as recurring salary and allowance issues affecting teachers, Radrodro says Kumar should be the last person to speak on issues concerning the Ministry of Education as they are still trying to address issues left behind by Kumar and her former Director of Human Resources.
Radrodro says some officers were appointed during their tenure, and the Ministry now has to work with them and teach them how to operate professionally and do things correctly.
Radrodro says he is still dealing with cases involving teachers who have remained unpaid for several years, including during Kumar's tenure as Education Minister.
He adds that the difference under the Coalition Government is that teachers are now allowed to speak up about their grievances, either through their teacher unions or by communicating directly with his office.
He claims that during Kumar's tenure, teachers were scared to publicly voice their complaints and the two teacher unions were ignored.
118 teachers to receive salaries today through special pay run, questions remain over other 16By Pita Toganivalu 08/09/2026Good news as 118 teachers affected by the recent salary stoppage are expected to receive their salaries today through a special pay run, however, questions remain over when the other 16 affected teachers will be paid.
Permanent Secretary for Finance Shiri Gounder has confirmed to fijivillage News that the Ministry is assisting the Ministry of Education with a special pay run to process the salaries of 118 teachers today.
This comes after Fijian Teachers Union General Secretary Paula Manumanunitoga posted on his Facebook page that he had received a call from the Permanent Secretary for Education confirming that all 118 teachers whose pay was suspended last week would receive it today.
The 118 teachers are among the 134 teachers affected by the salary issue.
This leaves questions over the remaining 16 teachers and when their salaries will be processed.
fijivillage News has asked the Ministry of Education on when the remaining teachers are expected to get their pay.
We are awaiting their response.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education is expected to hold a press conference this afternoon, where further details on the teachers' salary issue are expected to be provided.
Affected teachers to receive outstanding pay today, serious concerns raised on why teachers are not being paid on timeBy Karishma Kumari 08/09/2026114 teachers affected by the recent salary stoppage are expected to receive their outstanding pay this afternoon, while another 20 will be paid once they submit their signed employment contracts by tomorrow.
Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro says some affected teachers have already submitted their employment contracts, allowing their salaries to be processed, while others are yet to do so.
However, the Ministry is yet to determine the total number of teachers in Fiji yet to be paid by the Ministry of Education.Â
He says the Ministry is continuing its verification process, while officers are contacting teachers who have yet to provide documents requested by the Ministry's Human Resources Department.
Radrodro says the outstanding documents, including signed employment contracts, need to be submitted by tomorrow to allow the Ministry to complete the verification process and facilitate salary payments.
Radrodro says the Ministry's Human Resources and Finance teams are working to ensure the outstanding documents are received as soon as possible.
He says according to the Ministry's analysis, those affected include 30 school heads, three assistant head teachers, 47 primary school teachers, one assistant principal, 34 secondary school teachers, five technical teachers and nine non-teaching administrative officers.
As we start the third term of school, serious concerns have been raised on why some teachers have not been paid for weeks although they are teaching in the classroom.
Questions are also being raised on what is being done to fix this human resource and finance issue as the budget is already provided to pay the teachers by the Ministry of Finance.
When questioned about salary upgrades for graduate teachers, Radrodro says this remains a work in progress.
He says the Ministry needs to establish the proper process for the payment of the additional salary upgrades for all eligible teachers.
This has come up after some teachers contacted us, saying that they had upgraded their qualifications from diploma to degree level however their salaries are yet to be upgraded by the ministry.
Education Ministry will explore options to recover payments from 13 ghost employeesBy Karishma Kumari 08/09/2026The Ministry of Education will explore all available options to recover salary payments made to 13 ghost employees after they were identified through an auditing and verification process.
While responding to questions during a press conference, Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro said the recovery is allowable under the Government Financial Management Act, and there are various forms of recovery that can be explored.
The Minister says the issue was first highlighted in the 2024 Auditor-General’s report, and there is an ongoing process of verification and auditing.
Meanwhile, Deputy Secretary for Education Timoci Bure says this issue could have been due to communication from the schools to Human Resources, as there were some officers who left the system without advising the Ministry of Education.
He says some of these movements happened years ago, and the system could not pick up those movements.
However, Permanent Secretary for Education Navin Raj says the total amount paid to the 13 ghost employees is not available yet and would be provided after the verification process.
Opposition MP Premila Kumar says Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka should consider replacing Education Minister Aseri Radrodro if he cannot resolve what she describes as recurring salary and allowance issues affecting teachers and their pay.
Kumar says teachers should not have to chase the Government for money they have already earned and should not be punished for administrative failures within the Ministry of Education.
She says teachers were paid only up to Pay 18, with payments subsequently stopped after a Ministry audit reportedly found that some signed contracts had not been returned.
Kumar has questioned where the systems and people responsible for ensuring these contracts are properly processed are.
She says there are Heads of Schools and Divisional Heads in all four divisions, and if administrative problems are occurring on this scale, they should have been identified and resolved earlier.
Kumar claims that teachers who graduated in 2024 and submitted applications for salary upgrades, along with their degrees and university letters confirming completion of their studies, are still waiting for payment.
She says Education Minister Aseri Radrodro had confirmed that 273 teachers would be paid, subject to the availability of funds.
The Opposition MP also raised concerns about teachers taking additional classes because of teacher shortages and those serving in acting positions who she says are still waiting for allowances and other payments.
Kumar says the latest situation follows previous reports of salary and allowance problems affecting teachers.
She says Radrodro announced last month that salary arrears for 318 Ministry of Education staff were being expedited through Pay 17 and Pay 18, with the Ministry saying the delays were associated with internal processing and compliance requirements.
Kumar says the Fijian Teachers Association has also publicly raised concerns about salary and allowance delays affecting teachers.
She says while teachers must comply with the Civil Service Code of Conduct and follow proper administrative channels, questions need to be asked about what happens when those channels do not work.
Kumar has also questioned what teachers are expected to do when their grievances are repeatedly raised but remain unresolved by the Ministry.
She says they understand some teachers have even written to the Prime Minister’s Office seeking assistance.
Kumar has also questioned the role of Minister for Employment Agni Deo Singh, saying workers’ rights cannot be selective and teachers employed by the Government should not be ignored.
She says teachers should not be portrayed as irresponsible for allegedly failing to submit documents, sign contracts or follow procedures if they have already provided the required documentation and it has not been processed by the Ministry.
Kumar says if teachers have submitted all the required documentation and the paperwork is sitting somewhere within the Ministry, they should not be punished for the Ministry’s failure to process it.
We have sent questions to the Ministry of Education seeking a response to Kumar’s concerns.
More than $5,000 has been raised through a community appeal launched by content creator and influencer Eliki Dakuitoga to provide emergency financial support to teachers affected by the recent salary stoppage.
The $5 for Our Teachers appeal has so far raised $5,148.01 towards a target of $33,500, with $28,351.99 still needed to reach the target.
Dakuitoga says the appeal is aimed at providing a small emergency support payment to verified affected teachers while their salary issues are being sorted out.
He stresses that the assistance is not intended to replace the teachers' salaries and does not remove the Government's responsibility to resolve the matter.
Dakuitoga says Transparent Accounting & Consulting Service Pte Limited is receiving, controlling, recording and reconciling all funds donated to the appeal and will provide public financial updates and a final acquittal.
He says Apisai Salaba, who is representing the affected teachers, will work with them to form a committee that will help verify beneficiaries, guide the distribution of assistance and discuss the way forward.
Dakuitoga has also clarified that he does not personally receive or control the funds, decide which teachers receive assistance or personally disburse the money.
He says his role is to facilitate the initiative, use his platform to raise awareness, connect the parties involved and continue providing verified updates to the public.
Dakuitoga says the initiative is an independent humanitarian community appeal and is not connected to any political party, candidate or election campaign.
Affected teachers have been advised to keep their employment and identification documents ready, with a verification process expected to be announced before any assistance is released.
The appeal follows Dakuitoga raising concerns over 134 teachers not receiving their salaries.
He says if a teacher failed to submit a required document, they should be clearly informed so the issue can be corrected.
However, Dakuitoga says if a teacher signed and submitted the required documents but they were not properly processed somewhere between the school, district office and Ministry headquarters, those responsible should take ownership.
He says when 134 salaries are stopped at the same time, it raises serious questions about whether something within the system has failed.
Inser: Eliki on teacher issue 7th Sept 26 PT
He says administrative processes are supposed to serve people and people should not be left suffering because of a process that is not working properly.
Dakuitoga says the community appeal is about ordinary Fijians providing some immediate support to affected teachers while the authorities work to resolve their salary issues.
Radrodro hits back at Kumar over Education Ministry issuesPS to seek assistance to process payments immediately
By Karishma Kumari 08/09/2026Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro has hit back at Opposition MP and former Education Minister Premila Kumar, saying she should be the last person to speak on issues concerning the Ministry of Education.
In response to Kumar's comments that Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka should consider replacing Radrodro if he cannot resolve what she describes as recurring salary and allowance issues affecting teachers, Radrodro claims the Ministry is still trying to address issues left behind by Kumar and her former Director of Human Resources.
He says some officers were appointed during their tenure, and the Ministry now has to work with them and teach them how to operate professionally and do things correctly.
Radrodro also says he is still dealing with cases involving teachers who have remained unpaid for several years, including during Kumar's tenure as Education Minister.
He says the difference under the Coalition Government is that teachers are now allowed to speak up about their grievances, either through their teacher unions or by communicating directly with his office.
He claims that during Kumar's tenure, teachers were scared to publicly voice their complaints and the two teacher unions were ignored.
Radrodro says his office does its best to address concerns raised by teachers.
On the current pay issues affecting teachers, Radrodro says he has instructed the Permanent Secretary for Education to seek assistance from the Permanent Secretary for Finance to have the affected teachers' payments processed immediately.
Radrodro directs immediate processing of affected teachers' paymentsBy Karishma Kumari 08/09/2026Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro has confirmed that he has instructed the Permanent Secretary for Education to seek assistance from the Permanent Secretary for Finance to have the affected teachers' payments processed immediately.
He says that his office does its best to address concerns raised by the teachers.
In response to Opposition MP and former Education Minister Premila Kumar's comments that Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka should consider replacing Radrodro if he cannot resolve what she describes as recurring salary and allowance issues affecting teachers, Radrodro says Kumar should be the last person to speak on issues concerning the Ministry of Education as they are still trying to address issues left behind by Kumar and her former Director of Human Resources.
Radrodro says some officers were appointed during their tenure, and the Ministry now has to work with them and teach them how to operate professionally and do things correctly.
Radrodro says he is still dealing with cases involving teachers who have remained unpaid for several years, including during Kumar's tenure as Education Minister.
He adds that the difference under the Coalition Government is that teachers are now allowed to speak up about their grievances, either through their teacher unions or by communicating directly with his office.
He claims that during Kumar's tenure, teachers were scared to publicly voice their complaints and the two teacher unions were ignored.
118 teachers to receive salaries today through special pay run, questions remain over other 16By Pita Toganivalu 08/09/2026Good news as 118 teachers affected by the recent salary stoppage are expected to receive their salaries today through a special pay run, however, questions remain over when the other 16 affected teachers will be paid.
Permanent Secretary for Finance Shiri Gounder has confirmed to fijivillage News that the Ministry is assisting the Ministry of Education with a special pay run to process the salaries of 118 teachers today.
This comes after Fijian Teachers Union General Secretary Paula Manumanunitoga posted on his Facebook page that he had received a call from the Permanent Secretary for Education confirming that all 118 teachers whose pay was suspended last week would receive it today.
The 118 teachers are among the 134 teachers affected by the salary issue.
This leaves questions over the remaining 16 teachers and when their salaries will be processed.
fijivillage News has asked the Ministry of Education on when the remaining teachers are expected to get their pay.
We are awaiting their response.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education is expected to hold a press conference this afternoon, where further details on the teachers' salary issue are expected to be provided.
Affected teachers to receive outstanding pay today, serious concerns raised on why teachers are not being paid on timeBy Karishma Kumari 08/09/2026114 teachers affected by the recent salary stoppage are expected to receive their outstanding pay this afternoon, while another 20 will be paid once they submit their signed employment contracts by tomorrow.
Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro says some affected teachers have already submitted their employment contracts, allowing their salaries to be processed, while others are yet to do so.
However, the Ministry is yet to determine the total number of teachers in Fiji yet to be paid by the Ministry of Education.Â
He says the Ministry is continuing its verification process, while officers are contacting teachers who have yet to provide documents requested by the Ministry's Human Resources Department.
Radrodro says the outstanding documents, including signed employment contracts, need to be submitted by tomorrow to allow the Ministry to complete the verification process and facilitate salary payments.
Radrodro says the Ministry's Human Resources and Finance teams are working to ensure the outstanding documents are received as soon as possible.
He says according to the Ministry's analysis, those affected include 30 school heads, three assistant head teachers, 47 primary school teachers, one assistant principal, 34 secondary school teachers, five technical teachers and nine non-teaching administrative officers.
As we start the third term of school, serious concerns have been raised on why some teachers have not been paid for weeks although they are teaching in the classroom.
Questions are also being raised on what is being done to fix this human resource and finance issue as the budget is already provided to pay the teachers by the Ministry of Finance.
When questioned about salary upgrades for graduate teachers, Radrodro says this remains a work in progress.
He says the Ministry needs to establish the proper process for the payment of the additional salary upgrades for all eligible teachers.
This has come up after some teachers contacted us, saying that they had upgraded their qualifications from diploma to degree level however their salaries are yet to be upgraded by the ministry.
Education Ministry will explore options to recover payments from 13 ghost employeesBy Karishma Kumari 08/09/2026The Ministry of Education will explore all available options to recover salary payments made to 13 ghost employees after they were identified through an auditing and verification process.
While responding to questions during a press conference, Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro said the recovery is allowable under the Government Financial Management Act, and there are various forms of recovery that can be explored.
The Minister says the issue was first highlighted in the 2024 Auditor-General’s report, and there is an ongoing process of verification and auditing.
Meanwhile, Deputy Secretary for Education Timoci Bure says this issue could have been due to communication from the schools to Human Resources, as there were some officers who left the system without advising the Ministry of Education.
He says some of these movements happened years ago, and the system could not pick up those movements.
However, Permanent Secretary for Education Navin Raj says the total amount paid to the 13 ghost employees is not available yet and would be provided after the verification process.
Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro has hit back at Opposition MP and former Education Minister Premila Kumar, saying she should be the last person to speak on issues concerning the Ministry of Education.
In response to Kumar's comments that Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka should consider replacing Radrodro if he cannot resolve what she describes as recurring salary and allowance issues affecting teachers, Radrodro claims the Ministry is still trying to address issues left behind by Kumar and her former Director of Human Resources.
He says some officers were appointed during their tenure, and the Ministry now has to work with them and teach them how to operate professionally and do things correctly.
Radrodro also says he is still dealing with cases involving teachers who have remained unpaid for several years, including during Kumar's tenure as Education Minister.
He says the difference under the Coalition Government is that teachers are now allowed to speak up about their grievances, either through their teacher unions or by communicating directly with his office.
He claims that during Kumar's tenure, teachers were scared to publicly voice their complaints and the two teacher unions were ignored.
Radrodro says his office does its best to address concerns raised by teachers.
On the current pay issues affecting teachers, Radrodro says he has instructed the Permanent Secretary for Education to seek assistance from the Permanent Secretary for Finance to have the affected teachers' payments processed immediately.
Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro has confirmed that he has instructed the Permanent Secretary for Education to seek assistance from the Permanent Secretary for Finance to have the affected teachers' payments processed immediately.
He says that his office does its best to address concerns raised by the teachers.
In response to Opposition MP and former Education Minister Premila Kumar's comments that Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka should consider replacing Radrodro if he cannot resolve what she describes as recurring salary and allowance issues affecting teachers, Radrodro says Kumar should be the last person to speak on issues concerning the Ministry of Education as they are still trying to address issues left behind by Kumar and her former Director of Human Resources.
Radrodro says some officers were appointed during their tenure, and the Ministry now has to work with them and teach them how to operate professionally and do things correctly.
Radrodro says he is still dealing with cases involving teachers who have remained unpaid for several years, including during Kumar's tenure as Education Minister.
He adds that the difference under the Coalition Government is that teachers are now allowed to speak up about their grievances, either through their teacher unions or by communicating directly with his office.
He claims that during Kumar's tenure, teachers were scared to publicly voice their complaints and the two teacher unions were ignored.
118 teachers to receive salaries today through special pay run, questions remain over other 16By Pita Toganivalu 08/09/2026Good news as 118 teachers affected by the recent salary stoppage are expected to receive their salaries today through a special pay run, however, questions remain over when the other 16 affected teachers will be paid.
Permanent Secretary for Finance Shiri Gounder has confirmed to fijivillage News that the Ministry is assisting the Ministry of Education with a special pay run to process the salaries of 118 teachers today.
This comes after Fijian Teachers Union General Secretary Paula Manumanunitoga posted on his Facebook page that he had received a call from the Permanent Secretary for Education confirming that all 118 teachers whose pay was suspended last week would receive it today.
The 118 teachers are among the 134 teachers affected by the salary issue.
This leaves questions over the remaining 16 teachers and when their salaries will be processed.
fijivillage News has asked the Ministry of Education on when the remaining teachers are expected to get their pay.
We are awaiting their response.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education is expected to hold a press conference this afternoon, where further details on the teachers' salary issue are expected to be provided.
Affected teachers to receive outstanding pay today, serious concerns raised on why teachers are not being paid on timeBy Karishma Kumari 08/09/2026114 teachers affected by the recent salary stoppage are expected to receive their outstanding pay this afternoon, while another 20 will be paid once they submit their signed employment contracts by tomorrow.
Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro says some affected teachers have already submitted their employment contracts, allowing their salaries to be processed, while others are yet to do so.
However, the Ministry is yet to determine the total number of teachers in Fiji yet to be paid by the Ministry of Education.Â
He says the Ministry is continuing its verification process, while officers are contacting teachers who have yet to provide documents requested by the Ministry's Human Resources Department.
Radrodro says the outstanding documents, including signed employment contracts, need to be submitted by tomorrow to allow the Ministry to complete the verification process and facilitate salary payments.
Radrodro says the Ministry's Human Resources and Finance teams are working to ensure the outstanding documents are received as soon as possible.
He says according to the Ministry's analysis, those affected include 30 school heads, three assistant head teachers, 47 primary school teachers, one assistant principal, 34 secondary school teachers, five technical teachers and nine non-teaching administrative officers.
As we start the third term of school, serious concerns have been raised on why some teachers have not been paid for weeks although they are teaching in the classroom.
Questions are also being raised on what is being done to fix this human resource and finance issue as the budget is already provided to pay the teachers by the Ministry of Finance.
When questioned about salary upgrades for graduate teachers, Radrodro says this remains a work in progress.
He says the Ministry needs to establish the proper process for the payment of the additional salary upgrades for all eligible teachers.
This has come up after some teachers contacted us, saying that they had upgraded their qualifications from diploma to degree level however their salaries are yet to be upgraded by the ministry.
Education Ministry will explore options to recover payments from 13 ghost employeesBy Karishma Kumari 08/09/2026The Ministry of Education will explore all available options to recover salary payments made to 13 ghost employees after they were identified through an auditing and verification process.
While responding to questions during a press conference, Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro said the recovery is allowable under the Government Financial Management Act, and there are various forms of recovery that can be explored.
The Minister says the issue was first highlighted in the 2024 Auditor-General’s report, and there is an ongoing process of verification and auditing.
Meanwhile, Deputy Secretary for Education Timoci Bure says this issue could have been due to communication from the schools to Human Resources, as there were some officers who left the system without advising the Ministry of Education.
He says some of these movements happened years ago, and the system could not pick up those movements.
However, Permanent Secretary for Education Navin Raj says the total amount paid to the 13 ghost employees is not available yet and would be provided after the verification process.
Good news as 118 teachers affected by the recent salary stoppage are expected to receive their salaries today through a special pay run, however, questions remain over when the other 16 affected teachers will be paid.
Permanent Secretary for Finance Shiri Gounder has confirmed to fijivillage News that the Ministry is assisting the Ministry of Education with a special pay run to process the salaries of 118 teachers today.
This comes after Fijian Teachers Union General Secretary Paula Manumanunitoga posted on his Facebook page that he had received a call from the Permanent Secretary for Education confirming that all 118 teachers whose pay was suspended last week would receive it today.
The 118 teachers are among the 134 teachers affected by the salary issue.
This leaves questions over the remaining 16 teachers and when their salaries will be processed.
fijivillage News has asked the Ministry of Education on when the remaining teachers are expected to get their pay.
We are awaiting their response.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education is expected to hold a press conference this afternoon, where further details on the teachers' salary issue are expected to be provided.
114 teachers affected by the recent salary stoppage are expected to receive their outstanding pay this afternoon, while another 20 will be paid once they submit their signed employment contracts by tomorrow.
Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro says some affected teachers have already submitted their employment contracts, allowing their salaries to be processed, while others are yet to do so.
However, the Ministry is yet to determine the total number of teachers in Fiji yet to be paid by the Ministry of Education.Â
He says the Ministry is continuing its verification process, while officers are contacting teachers who have yet to provide documents requested by the Ministry's Human Resources Department.
Radrodro says the outstanding documents, including signed employment contracts, need to be submitted by tomorrow to allow the Ministry to complete the verification process and facilitate salary payments.
Radrodro says the Ministry's Human Resources and Finance teams are working to ensure the outstanding documents are received as soon as possible.
He says according to the Ministry's analysis, those affected include 30 school heads, three assistant head teachers, 47 primary school teachers, one assistant principal, 34 secondary school teachers, five technical teachers and nine non-teaching administrative officers.
As we start the third term of school, serious concerns have been raised on why some teachers have not been paid for weeks although they are teaching in the classroom.
Questions are also being raised on what is being done to fix this human resource and finance issue as the budget is already provided to pay the teachers by the Ministry of Finance.
When questioned about salary upgrades for graduate teachers, Radrodro says this remains a work in progress.
He says the Ministry needs to establish the proper process for the payment of the additional salary upgrades for all eligible teachers.
This has come up after some teachers contacted us, saying that they had upgraded their qualifications from diploma to degree level however their salaries are yet to be upgraded by the ministry.
Education Ministry will explore options to recover payments from 13 ghost employeesBy Karishma Kumari 08/09/2026The Ministry of Education will explore all available options to recover salary payments made to 13 ghost employees after they were identified through an auditing and verification process.
While responding to questions during a press conference, Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro said the recovery is allowable under the Government Financial Management Act, and there are various forms of recovery that can be explored.
The Minister says the issue was first highlighted in the 2024 Auditor-General’s report, and there is an ongoing process of verification and auditing.
Meanwhile, Deputy Secretary for Education Timoci Bure says this issue could have been due to communication from the schools to Human Resources, as there were some officers who left the system without advising the Ministry of Education.
He says some of these movements happened years ago, and the system could not pick up those movements.
However, Permanent Secretary for Education Navin Raj says the total amount paid to the 13 ghost employees is not available yet and would be provided after the verification process.
The Ministry of Education will explore all available options to recover salary payments made to 13 ghost employees after they were identified through an auditing and verification process.
While responding to questions during a press conference, Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro said the recovery is allowable under the Government Financial Management Act, and there are various forms of recovery that can be explored.
The Minister says the issue was first highlighted in the 2024 Auditor-General’s report, and there is an ongoing process of verification and auditing.
Meanwhile, Deputy Secretary for Education Timoci Bure says this issue could have been due to communication from the schools to Human Resources, as there were some officers who left the system without advising the Ministry of Education.
He says some of these movements happened years ago, and the system could not pick up those movements.
However, Permanent Secretary for Education Navin Raj says the total amount paid to the 13 ghost employees is not available yet and would be provided after the verification process.
