The grants for Early Childhood Education centres are not enough to cater for their operational demands.
Fiji Head Teachers Association president Johnson Rura said ECE is a cornerstone of lifelong learning, yet teachers are building this foundation with limited bricks.
“A $50 per child grant per term is simply not enough to provide quality, safe, and enriching experiences,” said Mr Rura.
“This must be urgently reviewed to ensure our youngest learners are given the best possible start.
“This is also one of the resolutions brought up in past conferences and at the ground level; nothing had changed.”
He said longer contact hours for children in school came at a cost.
“The ministry, through the ECE Section, must seriously consider this factor if we wish to build a stronger and solid foundation in our young learners.”
Mr Rura also highlighted the distribution of the Free Education Grant (FEG).
“The current FEG allocation model is disadvantaging large and some medium-sized schools.
“The disparity is glaring, especially when managing operational demands for a growing student population.
“Equity in funding must reflect equity in need.
“Our financial model should empower, not penalise schools that serve the greatest numbers.”
He said it was now time to bust the myth that larger schools did not automatically mean more FEG support.
“That’s a misconception that’s hurting the very schools carrying the greatest load.
“The reality is more students mean more complexity, not just more numbers.
“Funding must follow school needs and programs, not just head counts.”