The Fijian Teachers Association’s general secretary, Paula Manumanunitoga, has stated that the absence of parental involvement at home is a significant factor in the declining literacy rates among students. During the association’s annual general meeting on Tuesday, he expressed concerns regarding the number of high school students, who recently graduated from primary school, still struggling with literacy.
Mr. Manumanunitoga emphasized that the responsibility begins at home but also highlighted the role of teachers in collaborating with parents to provide support. He pointed out that the low literacy rates in Fiji can be attributed to multiple factors, one being the dissatisfaction among teachers regarding their work conditions.
He noted that many teachers feel overburdened and undercompensated, which adversely affects their performance. Teachers typically report to work at 7:30 AM and finish at 6 PM, often participating in extracurricular activities without adequate remuneration.
Furthermore, he criticized the Government for not addressing the teachers’ concerns. Mr. Manumanunitoga remarked that parental absence, especially among iTaukei families, is a substantial factor contributing to poor literacy outcomes. He reiterated that inadequate teacher pay is the primary issue leading to low morale and poor performance in the education sector.