The Fijian Teachers Association is calling on the Ministry of Education to reconsider the revocation of acting appointments of more than 20 heads of schools in the Suva Education District, saying the affected teachers should not be made to suffer for the Ministry’s failure to fill the positions on time.
FTA General Secretary Paula Manumanunitoga says the issue was one of the most pressing matters raised by teachers during the Association’s Annual Delegates Conference.
Manumanunitoga says some of the affected teachers had been acting as heads of schools for several years, with one serving in an acting position for about four years before receiving a letter last week revoking the appointment.
He says acting positions are not supposed to remain vacant for more than six months and should be advertised within that period to allow qualified candidates to apply and the most meritorious candidate to be appointed.
However, Manumanunitoga says the Ministry allowed some of these teachers to continue acting for one, two, three and even four years.
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Manumanunitoga says the teachers had moved into higher salary brackets while acting in the senior positions, and some would have made financial commitments based on those salaries, including car loans and household purchases.
He says returning them to their substantive positions would mean a significant reduction in their salaries and could leave some struggling to meet their financial commitments.
The FTA General Secretary says the matter was discussed through a motion at the conference, which was carried by delegates.
He says the Association will now ask the Ministry to stop revoking the acting appointments, allow the affected teachers to remain in their positions for the time being and advertise the vacant posts as quickly as possible so qualified teachers can apply.
Manumanunitoga says where a confirmed head of school has already been appointed to take over a position, the Ministry should also consider moving the affected acting head to a similar vacant position at another school.
He says the more than 20 affected heads of schools are within the Suva Education District, which also covers areas including Namosi, Serua, Beqa and Yanuca.
Manumanunitoga says the Permanent Secretary for Education had been invited to the conference to respond to issues raised by teachers but was unable to attend because of other commitments and sent a representative.
He says while the representative tried to explain what had happened, the FTA believes the officials responsible for the decisions should have been present to answer the teachers' concerns.
Manumanunitoga says the Ministry made the mistake and now needs to find a solution for the affected teachers.
The teachers received their revocation letters last week and, according to Manumanunitoga, are expected to be redeployed or return to their substantive positions when school resumes next term.
The FTA Annual Delegates Conference brings together delegates from the Association’s 87 branches around the country.
We have sent questions to the Ministry of Education and are awaiting their response.
