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.
