THE Fiji Teachers Union is right to demand the urgent implementation of the Educators Protection Policy.
First and foremost, schools, whether in the rural or town areas, are meant to be safe spaces for learning, growth and development.
They must also be safe workplaces for the teachers who dedicate their lives to educating the nation’s young minds. Without proper protection, respect and support for educators, the entire education system is threatened.
In recent years, there have been growing reports of teachers facing verbal abuse, threats, harassment and even physical intimidation from students, parents and members of the public.
Such incidents are deeply troubling because they undermine the dignity of the teaching profession. Teachers cannot effectively carry out their responsibilities in an atmosphere of fear and insecurity.
When educators feel unsafe, morale declines, stress levels rise and the quality of teaching is inevitably affected. As a result, children are affected.
The call by FTU general secretary Muniappa Goundar for the policy to be “activated as soon as possible” reflects the urgency of the situation.
Teachers are not just employees; they are mentors, role models and nation-builders. Every professional, whether it be a doctor, engineer, lawyer, farmer or leader, passes through the hands of a teacher. Yet too often, teachers are expected to tolerate abuse in silence while continuing to deliver results under difficult conditions.
The proposed Educators Protection Policy is therefore not just an administrative document. It is a necessary safeguard that can establish clear procedures for handling cases of abuse, provide legal and emotional support for teachers, and send a strong message that violence or intimidation against educators will not be tolerated.
Such a policy can also help restore confidence within the profession and encourage more young people to consider teaching as a respected career.
At the same time, the withdrawal of the draft Education Bill from Parliament raises concerns about delays in modernising Fiji’s education laws.
Education must evolve with changing social realities, technology and workplace expectations. Delaying reforms only prolongs the challenges faced by schools, teachers and students alike.
The Government must therefore prioritise meaningful consultation with teachers’ unions, school management and parents to ensure both the Educators Protection Policy and the draft Education Bill are strengthened and enacted without unnecessary delay.
Protecting teachers does not necessarily mean removing oversight for educators must continue to uphold high professional standards and ethical conduct. However, accountability should exist alongside protection, fairness and respect. A balanced education system benefits teachers, students, parents and the wider community.
A nation that values education must also value its teachers. If Fiji truly wants to strengthen its education system and prepare future generations for prosperity, then protecting teachers must become a national priority, not an afterthought.
