Teachers in the highlands of Navosa are calling for an increase in the Free Education Grant for rural and maritime schools, labelling the current allocations unfair.
While making submissions during the consultations on the review of the Education Act 1966, the teachers expressed disappointment over what they called “low amount” of grant each school received under the grant.
Navosa Central College principal Aseri Uluinavucu said the 1966 Act did not capture the cost of living challenges and pooled classified rural schools the same as their urban counterparts.
“For example, according to the Act, a school in Suva is the same as a school in Navosa,” Mr Uluinavucu said.
“It does not capture the needs of the rural schools like the differences in the modes of transportation.
“It needs to capture the very challenges that each school faces.”
He said an increase in the grant could help meet the transportation costs in particular.
“If you look at the financial reports of rural schools, most of their money goes towards transportation.”
Mr Uluinavucu told this newspaper a quotation for an approximate one-hour drive from Sigatoka Town to Navosa Central College costs $240 each trip.
“Then what about schools that are further inland? Their quotation is close to $500 per trip.”
Thomas Baker Memorial School principal Jone Kanalagi echoed Mr Uluinavucu’s concerns.
He said the grants for rural schools were not enough.
“If you visit our school we had raised funds for the construction of a new canteen in school and it took us two years to complete,” Mr Kanalagi said.
“If we are going to improve our infrastructure, we will need more funds under the grant.”
Natutatale Primary School head teacher Ponipate Tobua said there was a difference between equality and equity.
“When we talk about this digital age and era, especially when we are teaching our students, I think the allocation of grants for us here is totally not fair,” Mr Tobua said.
