The increase in teacher salaries, ranging from seven to ten percent, is based on the financial affordability of the Ministry of Education.
Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro, clarified this in response to questions about teachers’ reactions to a previously proposed 30 percent pay increase.
Mr. Radrodro stated that the pay raise, effective today, aims to boost teacher morale.
“We must thank the Coalition Government and the Ministry of Finance for the salary increase,” he expressed.
The salary increase also includes provisions for teachers who previously missed out on the regularization of their pay.
Despite not meeting the initial 30 percent request, Mr. Radrodro reported receiving positive feedback from the teacher unions, such as the Fijian Teachers Union and the Fiji Teachers Union.
He emphasized the importance of common sense, noting that pay increases depend on the Government’s ability to allocate additional funds from its revenue.
“We are providing an increase based on what we can afford,” he stated.
However, Mr. Radrodro recognized the legitimate concerns from the teacher unions about improving teacher welfare, particularly in rural areas.
“We can explore other ways to enhance teacher welfare,” he added.
Teachers need a conducive environment to teach and reside in during their assignment in a particular area.