The Fijian Teachers Association (FTA) is calling for the elimination of the no-repeat policy in schools. FTA general secretary Paula Manumanunitoga has urged the Coalition Government and the Ministry of Education to reconsider the policy.
Manumanunitoga argued that automatic promotion each year undermines academic performance, contributing to unsatisfactory student grades and failures in assessments. He noted that Fiji’s standing in literacy and numeracy has dropped from first to sixth and seventh in the Pacific region.
“We have not succeeded in removing this policy since the new government took over,” he stated. He added that while the government may cite increased costs, the FTA believes the investment would be beneficial. Historically, parents were willing to pay for their child’s repeat years before the policy was implemented.
According to Manumanunitoga, the introduction of the no-repeat policy in 2008-2009 has diminished parental engagement in their children’s education, as they know their child will be promoted regardless of performance. This has led to a lack of accountability among parents for monitoring their children’s academic progress.
He highlighted the high dropout rate in primary schools, reported as 4,589 by the minister, suggesting that abolishing the no-repeat policy could reduce this figure. Increased parental involvement could enhance student learning, and teachers would likely focus more on the academic performance of repeaters.
The FTA is requesting that the government take prompt action to abolish the policy in order to enhance Fiji’s academic reputation in the Pacific. Questions posed to Minister Aseri Radrodro and permanent secretary Selina Kuruleca last week have not yet received a response.
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