The Fijian Teachers Association (FTA) has raised significant concerns regarding the No Repeat Policy, which was introduced in 2014 by the FijiFirst government. The FTA president, Paula Manumanunitoga, asserts that this policy has been detrimental to academic standards in secondary schools, leading to the advancement of students who have not performed adequately each year. This automatic promotion, he argues, has resulted in an alarming number of non-readers reaching Year 12.

To combat these issues, Manumanunitoga urges the Ministry of Education to implement a system where students must repeat their grade if they achieve unsatisfactory results. He expressed the FTA’s full support for the Education Minister’s efforts to eliminate the policy, stating that the association has been consistently critical of it.

The policy’s consequences have led to decreased parental involvement in monitoring their children’s academic progress, as parents have become complacent, knowing their children will progress regardless of their performance. Manumanunitoga revealed that the FTA believes that enforcing grade repetition would motivate both parents and students to take learning seriously, ultimately improving education outcomes.

The association also proposed that the Ministry should closely monitor student performance, especially from Years 1 to 8, to ensure that basic reading skills are acquired before advancing. Furthermore, the FTA called for the evaluation of teachers based on their students’ academic performance.

The call for the repeal of the No Repeat Policy resonates with the ongoing discussions within the education sector about the implications of automatic promotions, particularly highlighted by the considerable dropout rate at the primary level, reported as 4,589 students.

The FTA’s advocacy mirrors sentiments expressed by political leaders, including Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and former Education Minister Ro Teimumu Kepa, who emphasize the need for a review of the policy to better support students and foster accountability in education. There is a growing recognition that allowing students to repeat grades can provide crucial academic support, providing hope for improved educational outcomes in Fiji.

This collective effort toward reform indicates a promising direction for the educational landscape in Fiji, aiming to enhance student performance and ensure that all learners have the foundational skills necessary for future success. The ongoing dialogue between educators and policymakers is essential for creating a robust education system that meets the needs of every student.