Gender equality is alive within the Ministry of Education, says the Minister for Education Filipe Bole.
His comments come in light of the World Teachers Day, which will be celebrated tomorrow.
Mr Bole said posts for head teachers and principals of schools were equally available to men and women.
“There is no differentiation in salaries because there is a fixed structure for all levels. Promotion is done on merit because there is a minimum qualification requirement for vacancies. There are and have been women education officers, women directors, women divisional education officers, deputy and permanent secretaries. They were once teachers,” Mr Bole said.
The theme for World Teachers Day 2011 is: “Teachers for Gender Equality”.
Mr Bole said for Fiji, the aim was to activate support from parents, guardians and stakeholders for the significance of our teachers in society and in the classroom.
“Fiji’s kindergarten, infant, primary and secondary schools are provided with qualified, motivated and competent male and female teachers,” the minister said.
“These teachers have made vital contribution in our children’s lives both inside and outside the classroom. We are providing these teachers with obligatory financial, intellectual and social support for the purpose of attaining education for all by 2015,” Mr Bole said.
The Government and the ministry’s initiative of 12 years basic education for every child is certainly a step towards weeding out gender inequality within the society.
The best place to start from is the classroom and the best people to facilitate that are teachers.
“Fiji today salutes and acknowledges the hard work and contribution of teachers both past and present to our society as a whole,” Mr Bole said.
The Education Minister sends his appreciation and well wishes to all teachers in Fiji.