The president of the Fijian Teachers Association (FTA), Netani Druavesi, emphasized the necessity for school counsellors to be spiritually enriched in order to effectively address the psychological challenges faced by teachers. His comments came in response to a sermon by Seventh-day Adventist Church pastor Nasoni Lutunaliwa, delivered during the opening of the FTA’s 90th annual delegates conference at the Suva Civic Centre.
Pastor Lutunaliwa recounted how his wife, a teacher, was deeply affected by a negative school environment, often expressing her distress not for their children but for her students. In light of this, Druavesi voiced that the FTA believes in the importance of spiritual guidance for school counsellors.
Druavesi stated, “We used to have counsellors in our schools, but currently, the FTA believes that these counsellors need to be spiritually filled.” He underlined the significance of grounding solutions in faith, noting, “In these very last days, we must turn to the word of God; there’s no other solution since teachers are often restricted by government regulations.”
He reiterated that issues should be addressed starting from homes, which he referred to as the first place of education, emphasizing that financial solutions or academic advantages alone are insufficient.
Druavesi also highlighted that the association has protocols for managing cases involving teachers and students, asserting, “They are our members until proven guilty; you remain a member of the union.” He stressed the importance of communication in such matters, contrasting current practices with those from the previous regime, which often resorted to immediate suspensions or demotions.
The FTA is actively engaging in discussions with the Ministry of Education and other relevant stakeholders to navigate these issues further.