Maritime teachers are responsible for their trips back to their schools and the Ministry will only assist in as far as advising teachers on the next available boat.
Arranging for return trips to the island is the sole responsibility of teachers serving in our island schools.
The Education Ministry would like our island teachers to arrange for their return trip as early as possible so that they are at school on time.
All teachers, irrespective of where they are stationed, will have their pay docked, if they do not report to school on Day 1 of each academic term.
This has been an ongoing issue with our maritime teachers and the Ministry will take a firm stand against those who fail to report to school on time.
A former maritime teacher now serving at the Ministry’s Headquarters said that it is the teachers’ attitude towards their chosen profession that mattered here.
Mr Isoa Musuqio, a Senior Education Officer, who served for 13 years in maritime schools, said that straight after Christmas, he would start looking for the next available boat and during those 13 years, he had never been late to school.
Lively educational forums in the islands, such as the FTA meetings and Tikina council meetings should focus on a practical system, which would mobilise all teachers (primary and secondary) for contact points in Suva during the holidays.
They can even appoint one teacher to act as their boat liaison officer to arrange and negotiate on behalf of all teachers serving on the island. It would be best to appoint a teacher, who is accessible to telecommunication systems and has good networking skills.
Collection of boat fares can also be made by this officer and forwarded to the shipping company that services their island.
Boat owners may only leave Suva wharf, if they are given money, and that they have the number of passengers to make the trip.
At most times, islanders who are also in Suva during the holidays, will be part of the return contingent. If all island schools have a boat liaison officer, then obviously these islanders would know who to contact for their return trip.
Moreover, it would be prudent for Head Teachers and Principals to finalize their staffing while they are still in Suva.
The Ministry strongly feels that this is a very simple exercise that requires nothing more than common sense and excellent networking skills.
If all maritime teachers had mobilized and worked out a practical system for their return trip, then schools will begin without any hindrance at all our maritime schools.
At this point, the Ministry is indeed grateful to teachers, who have been faithful to their call of duty and have made every effort to be at school on time.
Minister for Education, National Heritage, Culture & Arts, Youth & Sports, Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment, Mr Filipe Bole.