Transcript
All of Fiji's teachers are paid by the government, including those teaching in private and religious schools. The letter threatened suspension or termination for breaches. The leader of the Fiji Labour Party Mahendra Chaudhry says it was bizarre.
MAHENDRA CHAUDHRY: I think it's just outrageous and as far as I'm concerned I think the teachers and the union should come out strong on this, they should resist it and just don't obey this directive instruction.
The general secretary of the Fiji Teachers Union Agni Deo Singh, says it was breach of fundamental rights.
AGNI DEO SINGH: No thought at all was given when this letter was written, I don't see any basis for it. Of course this is beyond any imagination, I was totally astounded. I would never have expected this to come out of the education ministry.
The Shadow Minister of Education Mikaele Leawere says it was highly impractical, especially with school prize-giving season coming up.
MIKAELE LEAWERE: The teachers will have to speak to the public, to the parents and inform them about the school activities and what's related to the education issues of the institution and to get approval, this will be, it's quite absurd, it's quite ridiculous.
Mr Chaudhry says he agrees it would be impossible to put into practice and that shows up the incompetence in the ministry.
MAHENDRA CHAUDHRY: That's the absurdity of it all. One is the practical application of these instructions, how will they cope with it all? But it's stupid, plain stupid and what it deserves is a straight out refusal to abide by this directive, that's all.
Agni Deo Singh says when he told the permanent secretary Mr Tiko how impractical it was, he agreed to withdraw it within half an hour. But he says it's just one of many concerns he has with the education ministry.
AGNI DEO SINGH: We have had our highest rate of teachers being disciplined or demoted or terminated in the history of this country and the rules have been applied in a ruthless manner and of course not always in a correct manner. We have serious problems with that and we are trying to address that.
Mikaele Leawere says many in the ministry live in fear, and not just teachers. He says in recent months, he was photographed in a public place having a conversation with the Education Officer for the Eastern Division, Vilimoni Dranivesi, which prompted the ministry to terminate Mr Dranivesi's job.
Mr Leawere says teachers should be encouraged to speak their minds and he's concerned about the message that filters through to the students. The Minister of Education, Mahendra Reddy, and the Permanent Secretary, Iowane Tiko, could not respond to requests for comment.
