Curriculum changes made without adequate research, the removal of vernacular languages as a medium of instruction in the early years and overcrowded classrooms are contributing to declining literacy and numeracy standards in Fiji, says former trade unionist and educationist Susana Tuisawau.
Ms Tuisawau was reacting to the Pacific region’s appalling literacy and numeracy performance recorded in 2025 and reflected in findings released this week by the Pacific Community (SPC).
She called for a thorough review of primary teacher training and practicum, particularly for Years 1-3.
The report found only 44 per cent of Year 4 students across the 15 participating Pacific countries reached the expected level of reading proficiency.
While Fiji did not feature in the assessment because no country report was submitted, Ms Tuisawau said the regional results reflected what teachers here had been experiencing.
“I am so sorry to admit that these findings do tend to reflect the same downward spiral trend Fiji’s teachers had been experiencing,” she said.
Ms Tuisawau said Fiji was once among the stronger-performing countries in Pacific literacy assessments.
“Yes, we feel that there is a crisis. Several years ago, Fiji was amongst the top in these Pacific LANA. However, Fiji is no longer holding its own here as its standards has declined.”
She blamed frequent curriculum changes introduced without proper research and review, as well as the removal of Vosa Vakaviti, Hindi and Rotuman as mediums of instruction in Years 1 and 2.
She also pointed to overcrowded urban classrooms, saying some students were reaching Year 8 without basic reading skills.
“Some students going up to Year 8 today cannot read.”
She also warned that excessive reliance on artificial intelligence could “impair or stunt” students’ ability to think independently.
