In 1996, Amraiya Naidu, who was the permanent secretary for Education, disclosed that over 100 teachers had resigned during the first school term, a situation that raised significant concerns among stakeholders in the education sector. This revelation came after a meeting of the Fiji Teachers Union (FTU) held at Rishikul Sanatan College on May 3 of that year, where teachers voiced their worries about the growing number of departures.
Naidu reported that out of the 100 resignations, 66 were from secondary school teachers, including 31 who held positions as heads of departments. Additionally, 40 primary school teachers also left their roles. He emphasized the detrimental impact that the loss of seasoned educators would have on the Ministry of Education, particularly since replacing their expertise with new graduates would not be an immediate solution.
The main driver behind these resignations, according to Naidu, was the migration of teachers overseas. When queried about a potential shortage of educators, he assured that the ministry was working diligently to maintain adequate staffing levels throughout schools.
In response to the situation, the FTU called for a reform of the teacher education program, advocating for degree-level training to be offered at the University of the South Pacific in collaboration with the Fiji College of Advanced Education. The union also urged the ministry to develop a more robust secondary teacher training program to adequately equip future heads of departments.
FTU president Jagdish Singh highlighted the specific challenges faced by schools operating on native leases, which were increasingly burdened by high rental demands. He noted that these financial pressures were so severe in some instances that they led school committees to relinquish their institutions. Singh suggested that, given the significant contributions made by school committees towards education in the nation, the government should assume responsibility for paying school rents starting this year.
Singh expressed concern about the ongoing teacher shortage, emphasizing that attempts to secure pay increments for grant-in-aid teachers had failed as the ministry appeared disconnected from teachers’ needs. He argued that consistent underpayment would likely erode teachers’ commitment to their roles.
Lastly, he criticized the government for becoming increasingly autocratic in its civil service policies, suggesting that this trend undermined necessary accountability and transparency within the education system.
As discussions continue over the challenges faced by teachers and schools, there is hope that proposed reforms and a renewed focus on educators’ needs may help address these pressing issues.
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