THE Fiji Teachers Union is calling for a 15 per cent pay rise for teachers.
Union president Sashi Mahendra Shandi made the call during the opening of the 96th FTU Annual Conference in Ba where he highlighted the need for Government to prioritise teacher’s salaries in the upcoming national budget.
“The message we are sending to teachers through policy, through pay, through systems that reward not merit or commitment, but paperwork and bureaucratic whim is that teaching is not valued and when a society does not value its teachers, it devalues its future,” said Mr Shandi.
“We recognise fiscal constraints, but recognition alone is insufficient.
“We urge transparent budgeting that places education and specifically teacher remuneration and school infrastructure at the centre of national development strategy.
“We will hold governments accountable for those choices.”
Mr Shandi also called for job evaluation exercises, an improved promotion framework and a national retention package for teachers.
“We want a phased, binding salary adjustment plan for teachers over the next three to five years with measurable benchmarks and protections against inflationary erosion, a national audit of school conditions and a targeted infrastructure fund prioritising the worst-affected schools within the first two years, a rewritten promotion framework drafted jointly by the Ministry of Education and FTU, with clear criteria, timelines, independent appeals, and linkage to professional development and a national retention package with housing allowances or housing programs for remote teachers, hardship differentials and scholarship bonds for government-sponsored teacher trainees.
“We also want a teacher well-being and safety protocol, including mandatory reporting, counselling support, and regional helplines, a national campaign to elevate teaching as a profession, emphasising status, career prospects, and public respect to counter the narrative that success requires emigration.”
He added there was also a need to reduce the provision of in service training for teachers and the establishment of counsellor positions in schools under the 2026-2027 Budget.
“As we move forward, the Fiji Teachers Union stands ready to work in partnership with the Ministry of Education.
“We propose the establishment of a Joint FTU-Ministry Summit to develop a Teacher Empowerment Charter that addresses these critical issues.”
Ministry faces teacher exodus crisis
TEACHER exodus is a national emergency, says Fiji Teachers Union president Sashi Mahendra Shandi.
Calling for Government’s immediate intervention to the ongoing problem, Mr Shandi said Fiji was faced
with a crisis that threatened the fabric of its educational system.
“Young educators, newly trained and full of promise, are leaving our shores to teach overseas,” he said.
“Seasoned teachers, fatigued by ever-increasing workloads and stagnant salaries, are retiring early or
stepping away from the classroom. This is not just a labour problem. It is a national crisis. When other
countries offer better pay, clearer career trajectories, and safer working conditions, our teachers leave and
with them go experience, mentorship capacity, and institutional memory”
He said this was not just an employment issue, but an issue of national sovereignty over the country’s
educational future.
“We must implement retention strategies such as targeted incentives for rural and high-need
placements, housing support, scholarships with retention bonds for publicly funded teacher education, and accelerated promotion tracks for those committing to serve in Fiji.
“We must create workplaces where teachers can raise families, build lives, and prosper.”
In response, Employment Minister Agni Deo Singh said the concerns of the teachers and the union
remained a priority for the Coalition Government.
Plea to address teachers concerns
FIJI Teachers Union president Sashi Mahendra Shandi is urging Government to work with the union
and its representatives to address concerns from teachers who continue to face unfavourable working
conditions.
Speaking at the union’s 96th Annual Conference in Ba, Mr Shandi said FTU was prepared to negotiate
and advice government to improve issues such as salary gaps and career progression of teachers.
“We bring evidence, frontline experience, and the moral imperative of advancing public education,” he
said.
“Words and promises must translate into budgets, policies, and timelines that produce results for teachers and students.”
Mr Shandi also called on the more than 5000 union members they would continue to engage government
with their concerns.
“We will pursue constructive engagement and, where necessary, lawful and disciplined industrial action to
protect our profession and the children we serve.
“Let us document challenges, collect evidence, support each other, mentor young teachers, and raise
community awareness.
“When communities stand with teachers, policymakers listen. Demand that your representatives put education first.
“In the end, this is not just a union’s concern. It is a national mission.
“Fiji’s strength will be measured not by slogans or statistics alone, but by the dignity of its classrooms
and the permanence of its teachers.
“We must demand renewal, and we must act with unity, courage, and clarity.”
