The Education Minister, Mr Filipe Bole, today has issued a stern warning to all maritime teachers in the Eastern Division not to take fibreglass boats to travel to and from the main land.
All maritime teachers who defy this directive will face severe disciplinary measures.
The warning follows reports received at Headquarters that on Monday, a fibreglass boat carrying 17 passengers, 12 of which were teachers from Gau, drifted in the Lomaiviti Waters, only to be rescued by a fisherman at 4am on Tuesday morning.
Prior to that, the Ministry had also received a report in which a fibreglass boat bringing teachers from Gau to Suva for the Term 1 holidays, capsized. Luckily, they managed to get ashore.
The Ministry requests maritime teachers to make full use of government-franchised vessels, whose services, are now in operation.
These teachers should be grateful that Government has assisted them in providing this much-needed service.
Time and again, maritime teachers are reminded to plan ahead, budget for their return trip and make no last minute arrangements.
Except for special circumstances, all maritime teachers should be in school by Day 1 of every school Term.
The Ministry has no other alternative but to dock teachers’ pay if they do not report to school on time.
In that regard, the Ministry is urging managements and committees to report all teachers who do not report to school on time.
That message does not apply to maritime teachers only but to all teachers.
Finally, the Ministry trusts that teachers will seriously heed this instruction and take appropriate measures for their safety, their well-being and equally important- a refreshing beginning for each school day.
Filipe Bole
Minister for Education, National Heritage, Culture and Arts, Youth and Sports, Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment.