Acting Commissioner for Police Operations Kasiano Vusonilawe has called on parents to ensure their children travel directly to school and remain there throughout school hours, warning that officers will detain students found roaming town and return them to schools and parents. The directive, delivered this week, is being framed by police as part of a push to reduce truancy and protect children in public areas during school hours.
“Take it from me, the police officers will be there. They will take necessary actions before they take you home and hand you over to your parents,” Vusonilawe said, urging parents to monitor their children’s movements after they leave home for school. He told parents to cross-check attendance with school management before midday and again after the lunch break to confirm their children are in class.
Vusonilawe’s warning targets a pattern officers have observed where students leave campus early or change into school uniforms only after arriving in town to conceal truancy. “Some students leave school early or change into uniforms only after arriving in town, avoiding classes altogether,” he said, underlining the intent to deter that behaviour by increasing police presence in town centres during school hours.
Under the stated approach, students found wandering during class time will be taken to the nearest police station and subsequently handed to school authorities and parents. Vusonilawe framed the measure as a partnership between police and families: while officers will act when they encounter children off school grounds during class times, parents are expected to do their part by verifying attendance and ensuring their children follow the correct routes to and from school.
The appeal comes amid the back-to-school period, when families across Fiji have been busy procuring supplies and uniforms. Earlier reporting showed parents travelling to urban centres such as Suva to source books, shoes and other necessities, with some remote families spending the day in town to gather essentials. Police say increased movement of students and parents in town during this season makes vigilance by both families and authorities more important.
Police have not announced a timetable for heightened patrols or published formal guidelines for schools to report attendance to police, and there has been no immediate statement from the Ministry of Education. Vusonilawe’s comments, however, indicate an operational willingness to intervene directly when officers encounter students away from school during class hours rather than leaving such matters solely to school administrators.
The latest move underscores growing emphasis on student safety and accountability as the school term progresses. Parents are being asked to liaise with school management, double-check attendance around morning and post-lunch periods and ensure children do not detour into town during lessons — or face being taken to a police station and returned to school authorities.
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