Fiji’s Education Crisis: Are Parents Holding Students Back?

The Fijian Teachers Association has raised concerns about the impact of the breakdown of parental responsibility, particularly within some iTaukei families, on student discipline and performance in schools. General Secretary Paula Manumanunitoga emphasized that this lack of engagement is significantly affecting students’ academic success, particularly in literacy rates.

In an interview, Manumanunitoga noted that Indo-Fijian families tend to maintain stricter household rules, including ensuring that their children adhere to schedules that support their educational tasks. In contrast, he observed that many iTaukei children often return home from school to an empty house and are left to manage their own activities, leading to insufficient supervision and discipline.

He highlighted the importance of parental involvement in a child’s upbringing and pointed out that children from iTaukei families frequently engage in religious activities that further remove parental supervision, leaving them with little guidance during critical hours after school. “One of the parents should at least be there at home to meet and greet and supervise, instead of having both of the parents absent from home,” he said.

The concerns echoed previous remarks made by Manumanunitoga during the association’s annual general meeting, where he identified the absence of parental engagement as a central factor in declining literacy rates. He reiterated that while the responsibility primarily lies with parents, teachers also play a crucial role in fostering a supportive environment for students.

In a broader context, similar historical concerns have been noted by prominent figures, such as the late Chief Justice Sir Timoci Tuivaga, who emphasized the importance of active engagement from Fijian families in their children’s education. He pointed out that without proper support from home, children’s academic success can be severely compromised.

These ongoing discussions highlight a critical need for collaborative efforts among parents, educators, and the wider community to address the educational challenges facing iTaukei students. There remains hope that renewed awareness and commitment to parental engagement could lead to significant improvements in student discipline and performance, fostering a brighter future for Fiji’s youth.