By the end of this month, fifty early childhood educators in Fiji are set to migrate for higher-paying jobs, according to Paula Manumanunitoga, the general secretary of the Fijian Teachers’ Association. Manumanunitoga noted that these teachers have received job offers from Australia with promises of permanent residency after three years.
He reported that last year, 100 qualified early childhood education teachers left Fiji for similar opportunities. The Fijian Teachers’ Association has voiced strong opposition to hiring final-year tertiary students to address staffing shortages.
Manumanunitoga expressed that should a strike occur next week, it is likely that parents would join the protest, as he believes the situation is serious and that neither Biman Prasad nor the Prime Minister are adequately addressing the concerns. He highlighted that teachers in Fiji earn between $14,000 to $18,000 annually, while those moving to Australia can expect salaries ranging from $60,000 to $90,000 Australian dollars.