The Education Minister wishes to clarify that the article in today’s Fiji Times titled “Poor academic performance sparks teacher transfer” is a report on a message taken out of context. In fact, the officer quoted, was deliberating on the non-performance of an officer who was closely monitored by the School Inspectorate System of the Education Ministry, and after a number of visits to the school and the subsequent failure of the officer to improve, had left Inspectors with little option but to transfer him.
That message should have consolidated the Ministry’s earlier release (27/10) on the New Inspection Policy of the Ministry.
While that policy is aimed at guiding and assisting teachers, it ensures that instructions and advice given by Inspectors are seriously heeded.
Teachers must know that this policy also empowers the Inspectors to make recommendations for replacement, suspension, re-grading or even dismissal of teachers if they find that the areas that were highlighted in their previous visits have not been addressed and teachers continue to defy instructions for improvement.
Hon Filipe Bole Minister for Education, National Heritage, Culture and Arts, Youth and Sports, Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment.