The Fiji Women’s Rights Movement (FWRM) has called for more precise legal safeguards in the Draft Education Bill 2025, emphasizing the importance of protecting the dignity, safety, and wellbeing of girls in schools. During a session with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Justice, Law, and Human Rights in Suva, FWRM’s executive director, Nalini Singh, noted that while the Bill seeks to modernize Fiji’s education laws, it must incorporate stronger mandates that reflect the current social and health realities affecting children.
Singh underscored the necessity for education legislation to transcend general principles, advocating for enforceable protections that recognize the daily challenges faced by students, particularly girls. A major concern highlighted was the absence of a mandate for comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) in the proposed Bill. Singh pointed to alarming statistics, revealing that Fiji recorded 1,583 new HIV cases in 2024, a staggering 13-fold increase compared to the five-year average, with 41% of new cases among children aged 15 or younger.
She provided evidence indicating that age-appropriate sexuality education significantly enhances health and safety outcomes for young individuals. “Global reviews and guidance confirm that high-quality, comprehensive sexuality education does not increase early sexual activity but instead is linked to delayed sexual onset and safer behaviors,” Singh explained.
Additionally, FWRM raised alarms about the lack of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) standards within the Bill. Singh argued that inadequate facilities hinder girls’ educational participation, citing examples of how poor sanitation conditions lead to increased absenteeism and school dropouts. She revealed that 45% of female students in both primary and secondary schools were reported to drop out in 2025, with sanitation issues cited as a crucial factor.
“Many girls are directly impacted by poor sanitation, lack of privacy, and insufficient menstrual hygiene facilities, which diminish their schooling experience and overall dignity,” Singh said. She stressed the urgent need for schools to address these hygiene requirements to foster an inclusive learning environment.
Turning to issues of safeguarding, Singh pointed out that from 2020 to 2024, Fiji experienced 7,283 crimes against children, with girls comprising 70% of the victims. She argued that schools must implement stronger protective measures, including the hiring of trained professionals to support safeguarding efforts rather than overburdening teachers.
FWRM proposed mandatory training in Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) for all education sector employees and emphasized the need for gender-sensitive counselors in schools. Singh also expressed concerns about provisions in the Bill that could criminalize parents who fail to send their children to school, advocating for a supportive approach to education reform instead of punitive measures.
“Criminalizing parents risks ignoring structural barriers like poverty and safety concerns that inhibit school attendance,” she noted. Singh urged lawmakers to embrace a rights-based and supportive framework in education reform, asserting that clearer legal safeguards would enhance the Bill’s capacity to protect all children effectively.
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