Suva, Sep 30 – Fiji’s Ministry of Education is developing a comprehensive disciplinary and staffing policy to address ongoing challenges including staff misconduct, teacher shortages, and weak accountability across the education sector.
Education Minister Aseri Radrodro told parliament on Tuesday that the new policy targets critical areas such as gaps in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects, as well as staffing issues in remote schools and areas affected by teacher resignations or retirements. The framework aims to boost teacher retention, enhance motivation, and eliminate systemic issues such as favoritism, delays, and poor accountability in school management.
A key feature of the reform is an updated teacher transfer policy. Teachers will now be eligible to request transfers after serving a designated period, with formal application procedures and annual windows to ensure fair and transparent movements across schools and districts.
In a related development, Fiji’s Cabinet in August approved the country’s first-ever Child Safeguarding Policy, marking a significant milestone in child protection. The policy introduces a unified national framework that outlines clear responsibilities, minimum standards, and procedures for ministries, NGOs, statutory bodies, and institutions working with children.
Developed by the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection, the policy followed extensive nationwide consultations involving children, families, community leaders, and child welfare professionals.
Minister Sashi Kiran called the policy a “significant step” in upholding children’s rights and well-being. She emphasized that the framework addresses ongoing issues such as child abuse, neglect, exploitation, and rising online harm, by providing a coordinated and consistent response.
The initiative is expected to close long-standing gaps in reporting, intervention, and prevention that have hindered effective child protection in homes, schools, and communities across Fiji.
