Working conditions of teachers in rural and maritime communities has not improved, says Fijian Teachers Association general secretary Paula Manumanunitoga.
Speaking at the Pacific Regional Dialogue on Go Public! Fund Education in Nadi, Mr Manumanunitoga said teachers’ quarters in the maritime islands such as Lau had leaking roofs.
“A couple of weeks ago in Lau, I noted very bad conditions of the teachers’ living quarters,” said Mr Manumanunitoga.
“Every time it rains, they would have pots or containers lined up in their quarters to trap the water coming through the roof.
“There are still ‘pathetic’ living conditions that teachers are facing in Fiji.
“Don’t be impressed by the bright lights, the new buildings, the highways and the cars and traffic because out there in the rural islands and remote areas of Fiji, these are the real problems that teachers are facing.”
He said the reinstatement of the rural and boarding allowance for teachers serving in rural Fiji provided some relief for them.
“When you teach in a boarding school, you become a teacher on duty for a couple of weeks in a month and then you are on duty 24/7 looking after the children’s welfare.
“The teacher is woken up by the screams of children in the middle of the night when somebody gets possessed by evil spirits, so you have to go out there and get things settled.
“As for the rural allowance, the Government pays them a very insignificant amount, but it is an incentive for teachers wanting to go and teach in a boarding school out in the rural areas.
“This allowance was reinstated after the previous administration had taken them out.”
