Opposition MP Hem Chand has called on the Minister for Education to take responsibility for the stoppage of salaries for 134 teachers, saying the Government should not hide behind the explanation of “verification”.
Mr Chand said the Minister should focus on explaining why teachers had their salaries stopped in Pay 18, rather than criticising a teacher who publicly sought clarification about her pay.
He said teachers had the right to question salary stoppages and demand clear and timely explanations from their employer.
“The Minister should not confuse accountability with insubordination,” Mr Chand said.
He also rejected suggestions that teachers raising concerns about their employment matters were engaging in political activity.
“If the Ministry’s procedures are fair, transparent and properly administered, then the Minister should have nothing to fear from public scrutiny,” he said.
Mr Chand questioned what corrective action had been taken following the administrative problems and what assurances had been given that similar issues would not happen again.
“Accountability cannot be a one-way street,” he said.
“Fiji’s taxpayers deserve answers, not political spin.”
Mr Chand said teachers deserved to be paid correctly and on time, along with clear communication and fair administrative processes.
He accused the Minister of lecturing teachers while failing to address shortcomings within the Ministry.
“Do not hide behind the word ‘verification’. Do not shift the blame. Do not lecture teachers while ignoring the failures within your own Ministry,” he said.
Mr Chand said if there had been a systems failure, the Government should acknowledge it, determine whether public money had been improperly paid and correct the problem.
“And if legitimate teachers had their salaries stopped because of administrative shortcomings, fix the system and make it right,” he said.
