Recent data released by the Ministry of Education shows there are 580 teacher vacancies in primary schools nationwide, says Fijian Teachers Association general secretary Paula Manumanunitoga.
He said teachers were migrating overseas in droves for better pay and working conditions.
“We had a meeting with the Minister of Finance two months ago, but he does not seem to understand our plight,” he said.
“On top of that, teachers are leaving to go abroad.
“There’s a severe teacher shortage in this country. This is the data we got from the ministry, that we have 580 vacancies at primary level.”
There are about 736 primary schools in the country, and Mr Manumanunitoga said that each of them were short by two or three teachers.
Last year The Fiji Times reported there were 172,023 students enrolled at 736 primary schools around Fiji — where 6231 teacher positions were filled and 184 positions vacant.
The 176 secondary schools had 610 vacancies and 64 vacant classroom teacher positions due to mismatch of subjects and graduates’ subject combinations.
Mr Manumanunitoga said it was the Government’s role to ensure this shortage is addressed.
“I heard last week that they are now asking teacher trainees to go into the classrooms and teach. This is illegal.
“I am not sure about high schools, but there are 138 secondary schools in Fiji. That’s the new data we’ve gotten from the ministry.
“Every now and then we get a call from heads of schools requesting we send a teacher there.
“The most serious shortage is of maths teachers.”
