In response to the alarming rise in drug infiltration within the school system and new HIV cases, the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission is urging all stakeholders to take joint responsibility for supporting the mental health and well-being of teachers.
Commission Chair Pravesh Sharma emphasized that the well-being of educators is crucial for maintaining a productive and nurturing environment for students. He stated that teachers play a pivotal role in fostering an inclusive and resilient education system and stressed the need for the State, teacher unions, school managements, and parents to recognize and support the mental health and psychosocial well-being of teachers.
Sharma suggested that, much like the existing child protection policy, there should be similar guidelines, strategies, and policies for teachers’ protection. He advocated for capacity-building training to help teachers address issues related to student drug addiction, disciplinary procedures, and counseling students caught with drugs.
Furthermore, Sharma highlighted the importance of educating teachers on how to manage children with HIV and other health issues without discrimination. He called on the State to invest in teachers not only by providing resources but also by training them in crisis management for classroom situations.
He pointed out that teachers are already dealing with significant job pressures, such as large class sizes, limited resources, and high expectations from parents and school managements. The current situation, with the rising numbers of drug and HIV cases, further threatens their mental health.
One pressing issue the Commission is addressing is teachers’ right to live with dignity, specifically concerning staff accommodation. Sharma stressed the collective responsibility to support teachers, proposing strategies like providing accessible mental health resources, including counseling services, support groups, and stress management workshops tailored to educators’ needs.
He also mentioned that the workload of teachers should be reviewed to ensure they have a manageable number of students and adequate planning time.