Teachers who have recently upgraded their qualifications are expressing frustration over the delay in salary increases promised by the Ministry of Education. Several educators reported that they have not yet received the pay upgrades that were supposed to follow their qualification enhancements.
One teacher from the Western Division, who wished to remain anonymous, shared that after over 20 years in secondary education and financing her own degree, she graduated in April but continues to receive an annual salary of $22,000. Her salary was expected to rise to $28,000 after completion of her degree.
Another educator, who earned her degree last year, also stated that she is still waiting for her pay upgrade. “New graduates entering the profession are starting at $28,000, while we have been teaching for over 20 years without an increase following our qualifications upgrade,” she lamented.
Muniappa Goundar, general secretary of the Fiji Teachers Union (FTU), indicated that they have been actively pushing for the salaries owed to around 200 teachers who have completed their education but remain at Band D. He noted that despite prior assurances regarding the 2024/25 National Budget, no budget allocation has been made for these important payments.
Investigation revealed that the Ministry of Education’s finance team failed to submit the necessary requests to the Ministry of Finance, despite the importance of the funding. This gap in communication has placed many committed teachers in financially challenging situations as they strive for professional development.
Goundar also mentioned that teachers who resigned, migrated, and have since returned to work are currently on probation for six months. During this time, they find themselves positioned on Band D instead of Band F, which they would have earned following the completion of probation.
This ongoing delay is resulting in significant hardships for the affected teachers and their families, who depend on adequate salaries to manage their living costs. The FTU is urging the Ministry to promptly allocate the necessary budget resources to address these issues.
“Teachers who have diligently pursued advanced education and those returning to contribute to the nation deserve timely and fair remuneration for their skills and commitment. The delay in payments not only diminishes their morale but also threatens the quality of education in our schools,” Goundar stated.
The union is calling on the Ministry to prioritize the wellbeing of teachers and their families by acting swiftly to secure the funds needed for these outstanding payments. “Our educators deserve nothing less than prompt and equal treatment, acknowledging their vital contributions to education in Fiji.”
At the time of reporting, the Ministry had not provided any comments.