Due to the alarming rise in drug infiltration within our school system and new HIV cases, the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission urges all stakeholders to take collective 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 highlighted the critical role teachers play in building an inclusive and resilient education system and stressed the importance of the State, teacher unions, school management, and parents recognizing and supporting teachers’ mental and psychosocial well-being.
“There is a child protection policy in place; perhaps, there is a need for similar guidelines, strategies, and policies for teachers’ protection,” Sharma said. He underscored the need for capacity-building training for teachers to enhance their knowledge on how to respond to students with drug addiction issues, disciplinary procedures, and counseling students found with drugs in the classroom.
Sharma mentioned that teachers also need education on handling children with HIV and other health issues in the context of discrimination. He urged the State to invest in teachers by not only providing resources but also training them to manage crises in classrooms.
“Teachers are already struggling with job pressures — including large class sizes, limited resources, high expectations from parents and school management, and now the alarming rise in drug and HIV cases. Their mental health is at stake.” Sharma also highlighted staff accommodation as an issue, referring to teachers’ right to live with dignity.
Supporting teachers is a collective responsibility, Sharma stressed, suggesting strategies like providing accessible mental health resources, including counseling services, support groups, and stress management workshops tailored to the needs of educators. He also called for a review of teachers’ workloads to ensure they have a manageable number of students and sufficient planning time.