The absence of parents from home and the lack of engagement with their children has contributed to a drop in literacy rate among students, says Fijian Teachers Association general secretary Paula Manumanunitoga.
He told the association’s AGM on Tuesday that high school teachers were concerned at the number of students fresh out of primary school who were still illiterate.
“It all starts from home,” Mr Manumanunitoga said.
“But I believe teachers are also there to work with them and their guardians to provide parental support to the children.
“That is one contributing factor to the low literacy rate in Fiji, but teachers are the most unhappy workers in this country.”
Mr Manumanunitoga said teachers were often overworked and underpaid and this has resulted in their poor work performance.
“They do so much in the classroom, reporting to work at 7.30am, knocking off at 6pm and then they take part in extracurricular activities.
“But they are not well remunerated.”
Mr Manumanunitoga said the Government failed to understand or heed the concerns highlighted by the teachers.
“Parents are committed to other things.
“When children come home, their parents are not there, especially the iTaukei. That is one of the contributing factors to the drop in the literacy rate.
“I have said it once and I will reiterate that this is the second contributing factor.
“The first is how the teachers are not paid well and that this causes low morale and performance.”
