The Education Bill 2025 introduces a comprehensive framework to strengthen teacher discipline, professional conduct, and accountability through clear procedures for inquiries and penalties.
Under Division 4 – Teacher Discipline and Inquiries, the Act outlines specific steps to address cases involving teacher misconduct, incompetence, or criminal conviction.
Section 114 requires that if a registered teacher is convicted of an offence in Fiji, the Commissioner of Police or the Director of Public Prosecutions must notify the Fiji Teacher Registration Board (FTRB) in writing, providing details of the offence and the penalty imposed. Teachers convicted overseas are also required to report their conviction and its circumstances to the Board within 28 days.
Upon receiving a conviction notice, the Board has the authority to caution, suspend, or cancel a teacher’s registration if the offence renders the teacher unfit to teach. In some cases, the Board may substitute a provisional registration with specific conditions during the suspension period.
Section 115 empowers any person to file a written complaint against a registered teacher regarding professional conduct. The Board may dismiss frivolous or vexatious complaints but must notify the complainant of its decision and provide copies of the complaint to the teacher and their employer.
Under Section 116, the Board has the power to hold inquiries into registration matters or complaints and may appoint a committee of inquiry to make recommendations. The Board can also initiate an inquiry if it reasonably believes a teacher is incompetent, has falsified registration information, lost good character standing, or had their registration cancelled abroad.
The Bill was tabled in Parliament last Friday.
