The general secretary of the Fijian Teachers Association, Paula Manumanunitoga, has expressed concern that some primary students transitioning to secondary school still struggle with reading. He highlighted this issue during the association’s annual general meeting in Suva, emphasizing the alarming literacy rates among students moving up from primary education.
Manumanunitoga noted that secondary school teachers have reported ongoing difficulties with students who cannot read. “It is embarrassing,” he remarked, urging primary teachers to intensify their efforts to improve literacy standards, as discussed in meetings with the education minister.
He pointed out that an over-reliance on artificial intelligence has contributed to the literacy issue, stating that while technology can be beneficial, it has led some students to rely too heavily on ready-made answers rather than using their critical thinking skills.
Highlighting a decline in literacy and numeracy levels since the FijiFirst government came into power, Manumanunitoga recalled that before their tenure, Fiji positioned itself as the top nation in the Pacific for literacy and numeracy. Now, he noted, Fiji ranks lower, having been surpassed by countries like Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, and Kiribati.
Manumanunitoga also reminisced about stricter disciplinary measures from the past, which he believes helped maintain better academic performance among students. He reflected on methods such as making students stand on chairs or desks as a form of discipline that are no longer feasible in today’s educational environment.