Opposition MP Premila Kumar has accused the Government of failing teachers, saying educators should not be left without salaries or allowances because of administrative problems within the Ministry of Education.
Kumar said teachers were paid only up to Pay 18, with subsequent payments stopped following a Ministry audit that reportedly found some signed contracts had not been returned.
“If this is the reason for stopping teachers’ salaries, then serious questions must be asked,” Kumar said.
“Where are the systems and people responsible for ensuring these contracts are properly processed?”
She questioned why administrative problems affecting teachers on a large scale were not identified and resolved earlier, given the Ministry’s existing hierarchy of heads of schools and divisional heads.
“Teachers should not be left without their salaries because of administrative failures within the Ministry,” she said.
Kumar also raised concerns about teachers who graduated in 2024 and applied for salary upgrades after completing their degrees.
She said these teachers had submitted their applications, degrees and university letters confirming completion of their studies, but were still waiting for payment.
Education Minister Aseri Radrodro has confirmed that 273 teachers are expected to be paid, subject to the availability of funds.
Kumar said teachers taking additional classes because of shortages were also carrying increased workloads while waiting for location allowances and salary upgrades.
She said teachers acting in higher positions were similarly waiting for acting allowances.
“Yet the Government continues to give teachers excuses by blaming the teachers for not submitting paperwork,” Kumar said.
Her comments follow previous concerns over salary arrears within the Ministry.
Kumar pointed to the announcement last month that salary arrears owed to 318 Ministry of Education staff were being expedited through Pay 17 and Pay 18.
She said the Ministry had previously attributed delays to internal processing and compliance requirements.
“The Fiji Teachers Association has also publicly raised concerns about salary and allowance delays affecting teachers who were forced to buy goods on credit because they were not paid by the ministry for months,” she said.
Kumar said the Government could not continue portraying teachers as responsible for administrative failures.
“Teachers should not become the scapegoats,” she said.
She acknowledged that teachers were required to comply with the Civil Service Code of Conduct and follow proper administrative procedures, but questioned what happened when those systems failed.
“What are teachers expected to do when their grievances are repeatedly ignored by the Ministry?” she asked.
Kumar also questioned the role of Employment Minister Agni Deo Singh, asking why he had not intervened on behalf of affected teachers.
“Workers’ rights cannot be selective. You cannot ignore workers at home, particularly teachers employed by the government,” she said.
She said teachers should not be portrayed as irresponsible when documentation may have already been submitted and was awaiting processing within the Ministry.
“If teachers have submitted all the required documentation and the paperwork is sitting somewhere within the Ministry, then the teachers should not be punished for the Ministry’s failure to process it,” Kumar said.
She called on Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka to intervene, saying the issue ultimately came down to leadership and accountability.
“If the Minister for Education cannot resolve something as fundamental as paying teachers correctly and on time, then the Prime Minister must ask whether the Minister for Education is capable of doing the job,” Kumar said.
“If the answer is no, then he should be replaced.”
