The proposed Education Bill in Fiji may create significant regulatory gaps in teacher registration if essential provisions from the current Fiji Teachers Registration Authority (FTRA) Act are not retained. During a public consultation, FTRA Chief Executive Sangita Singh expressed her concerns that the new bill set to replace the existing FTRA Act does not adequately reflect the legal and operational frameworks essential for practical teacher registration.
Singh highlighted that since the FTRA became an independent state body following its separation from the Ministry of Education in 2013, its governing legislation has not been thoroughly reviewed to account for this transition. She warned that failing to include vital provisions from the FTRA Act in the new legislation might undermine the regulation of the teaching profession, leading to confusion for schools, educators, and regulatory bodies.
Notably, Singh pointed out several critical areas lacking in the Education Bill, including insufficient definitions for various registration categories, such as limited authority, provisional registration, and full registration. Additionally, there is a notable absence of legal recognition for established practices already in operation, raising concerns about their future.
“These are not new practices. They are already being carried out, but they are not clearly defined in the Act or reflected in this bill,” Singh remarked. Furthermore, she emphasized that the role of the FTRA’s chief executive officer has never been formally articulated in legislation, even though this position has been crucial for overseeing day-to-day registration processes since the authority’s inception.
In response to these concerns, committee members acknowledged the issues presented and requested a summary to identify which provisions from the existing Act and approved amendments are missing from the draft bill. Singh committed to providing a detailed mapping of these gaps to assist lawmakers and drafters, underscoring the importance of maintaining teacher registration standards during the transition to a new legal framework.
The public consultation regarding the Education Bill remains ongoing, allowing for further discussion and input from various stakeholders in Fiji’s educational landscape. This proactive approach aims to foster a more robust and coherent regulatory environment for teachers, ensuring clarity and consistency as the education sector evolves.
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