The Ministry of Education is committed to tackling the issue of teacher shortages in Fiji, particularly the over 500 vacant positions in primary schools. Education Minister Aseri Radrodro acknowledged the challenge, noting that the ministry cannot prevent individuals from seeking better opportunities, either abroad or locally.
Radrodro reported that there are currently 580 vacant positions for primary school teachers and emphasized that the ministry is actively working to mitigate the impact of these departures. To address the shortage, the ministry has implemented a recruitment strategy targeting secondary school teachers to fill roles in primary education. Additionally, training is being provided for those interested in remaining as primary school educators.
Furthermore, Radrodro mentioned that the ministry is collaborating with the Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Scheme (TSLS) to improve teacher recruitment at training institutions. While efforts are being made to recruit teachers for primary education overall, there is a particular focus on enhancing resources in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects.
He pointed out the significant need for more teachers in STEM areas, including physics, and stated that steps are being taken to guide new recruits towards these critical subjects. Radrodro concluded that to meet the high demand for STEM educators, the ministry is dedicated to ongoing efforts in this area.