About 200 teachers in the Central Division are currently assisting the Health Ministry in its COVID-19 operations.
This, according to Fiji’s two teacher unions.
On Monday, some parents in the Central Division received advice from schools informing them that zoom classes would not be conducted this week because teachers were engaged in national duties.
Fijian Teachers Association general secretary Paula Manumanunitoga said it was important for the Education Ministry to understand the primary role of teachers.
He said students’ learning should not be compromised during this pandemic period and the ministry needed to make proper arrangements with parents and students before engaging teachers in other national work.
Mr Manumanunitoga said teachers were previously asked to assist frontline workers, but this time teachers were updating the ministry’s data entry record system.
Fiji Teachers Union general secretary Agni Deo Singh said the unions would soon have a meeting with Education Minister Premila Kumar.
Mr Singh said they hoped to discuss issues of concern.
Questions sent to the minister on Monday and again yesterday remained unanswered.
