The Ministry of Education in Fiji is focused on addressing the significant shortage of teachers, particularly the more than 500 vacant positions in primary schools. Education Minister Aseri Radrodro acknowledged that this issue is critical, but also noted the challenge of retaining teachers who seek better-paying opportunities both abroad and locally.
Radrodro highlighted the ministry’s ongoing efforts to mitigate the loss of teaching staff, stating that there are currently 580 vacant positions for primary school teachers. To counter this, the ministry is actively recruiting secondary school teachers to fill primary school roles and is providing necessary training for those interested in transitioning to primary education.
Additionally, the ministry is collaborating with the Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Scheme (TSLS) to enhance teacher recruitment from training institutions. They are particularly focused on bolstering resources in key areas such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects. Radrodro emphasized the urgent need for more teachers in STEM fields, including physics, and stated that the ministry is directing new recruits towards these essential subjects to meet the growing demand.