The Ministry of Education is refuting claims that it approves exclusive deals as reported in the Fiji Times Online on Monday, January 25th.
The report insinuated that the Ministry allows schools to engage in exclusive deals with traders for the supply of school uniforms and other educational material.
The Ministry, in its release, never used the sentence ‘schools are allowed to engage in exclusive deals with traders for the supply of school uniforms and other educational material.’
What it said was, ‘…schools may recommend traders supply uniforms, school stationery and other educational materials…’
The two constructions are totally different in context. The Fiji Times’ contextualisation could be the reason to the Consumer Council agitation.
The Ministry of Education made the statement while supporting the idea of schools attaining uniformity and maintaining standards. That is why, the Ministry says it ‘hopes’ that all parents will abide by schools' preferred traders.
However, the Ministry appreciates the concerns of the Consumer Council of Fiji over the cost of uniforms in which some traders are charging more than others.
The Ministry wishes to let the public know that some of its current initiatives are focusing on making the cost of education as a whole affordable to all.
Some assistance it is offering includes the provision of free tuition, transport assistance and free textbooks.
Therefore, the Ministry cannot contradict itself by practicing one gospel and saying another at the same time.
If the Consumer Council was bringing up the issue of prices of school items as its point of contention, the Ministry then recommends that the council take its grievances to the Price Income Board or the Commerce Commission.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education is asking the media to be responsible in their reporting.
Minister for Education, National Heritage, Culture and Arts, Youth and Sports, Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment, Mr Filipe Bole