HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT RATU WILIAME KATONIVERE ADDRESS AT THE 90TH ANNUAL FIJIAN TEACHERS ASSOCIATION DELEGATES CONFERENCE 2024

The President of the Fijian Teachers Association, Mr. Netani Druavesi,
The Executive Members of the Fijian Teachers Association,
School Principals, School Heads, Teachers and Educators,
Distinguished Guests, 
Ladies and Gentlemen.

Miau Sa Bula Re and a very warm welcome to you all. 

I am deeply honoured to be here this morning among esteemed guests and educators to deliver the keynote address at the 90th Fijian Teachers Association Delegates Conference. 

I am humbled to be invited to be part of the important event and I express my sincere acknowledgement to the members of the Executive Board of the Fijian Teachers Association and to the members of the organizing committee.

The theme of this year’s Conference is in the itaukei language, allow me to briefly address my thoughts in vernacular, before I continue.

Taumada, au via vakavinavinakataki kemuni na lewe ni matabose ni Soqosoqo ni Qasenivuli itaukei, ena nomuni veisureti vei au ena I ka ciwasagavulu ni nomuni bose levu vakayabaki.

E ka ni marau vei au ni’u mai dolava na bose oqo baleta ni’u dau tokona sara vakalevu ka tutaka na veivakavulici kei na veituberi vei ira na luveda.  

Me vaka na idusidusi ni bose oqo – Butu Mawe, Solesolevaki, kei na Cavuisausau, e vakamatatataka vei keda na sala mo ni muria kei na vua ni nomuni veiqaravi. Vinaka vakalevu ena nomuni yalo dei ena gauna dredre– ni sega ni yavalati vakarawarawa. E ka bibi me tiko vei keda na vosota, na yalomatua, kei na noda kila na Kalou. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for indulging me in your time to share a few sentiments in the itaukei language.

When I was approached to speak at the 90th Fijian Teachers Association Delegates Conference, my acceptance was immediate. The education of our children and youths and education in general is a subject that I am passionate about. In this era where young minds are surrounded by a plethora of social ills, peer influences, illegal substances, cyber bullying, it is befitting as educators and guardians, to share experiences and lessons on constructive disciplinary strategies.  

The Executive Board of the Fijian Teachers Association and the organizing committee of this year’s Delegates Conference have selected an itaukei theme - Butu Mawe, Solesolevaki, kei na Cavuisausau. 

The theme is three-pronged. For your benefit, allow me to explain each of the three parts within the context of this Conference. 

•    Butu mawe – Essentially, refers to following in the footprints of those who have preceded us, as educators, taking life lessons and validating the values that nurture and encourage the wholesome development of our students or our children.

•    Solesolevaki – When we talk about the spirit of solesolevaki, we are talking about collaboration, working together to achieve mutual goals. Traditionally, solesolevaki remains a form of resolving family or community responsibilities. 

•    Cavuisausau – Refers to achievements, setting new benchmarks, and challenging ourselves to achieve higher. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, at this juncture, I wish to acknowledge and thank all past and present educators, teachers, head teachers, and principals who have and continue to add significant value to the quality of education and for inspiring the students to always reach for greater heights.  

These have undoubtedly contributed to the quality of life for the students and their respective families.

The founding twenty members of the Fijian Teachers Association realized in 1934 of the necessity to establish an institution to guide the needs of Fijian educators. It was originally known as the Fijian Native Teachers Association, an itaukei-only institution. A change in name in the 1990s to its current title also meant a significant transition permitting the membership of non-itaukei educators, thus promoting inclusivity and diversity within the Association. 

As the agency evolved, so has educational reforms and policies that now form the framework of our nation’s education system. With the National Development Plan under the Coalition Government, we look forward to the further uplifting of the teaching profession. I urge you all to actively participate in the development of our nation, guided by the pillars of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal Four on Education, as well as your commitment to achieving national targets. 

Educators, I speak to you as an itaukei and as a proud son of a schoolteacher; my late mother, Bale Vaniqi (bless her). I was brought up in an environment steeped in discipline. I was taught to value time, to respect my elders, to observe, to listen, to make the right decisions, and to do things without being reciprocated or complimented. My mother was a true disciplinarian. In retrospect, I believe that the discipline in my formative years molded me into my role, as a traditional leader, and secondly as leader of our nation. 

On that note, I commend all teachers who are mothers and guardians, who nurture their children in agreeably systematic environments. 

I relate to you my experience because the element of respect between educators and students, especially among the itaukei today, is declining. It must be urgently addressed if we want to produce leaders in our communities, youth groups, churches, and professional spaces. 

The power of education cannot be understated. It is a catalyst for transformative change. The sustainability and prosperity of the vanua, our nation, our communities, and our families, is dependent on the quality of instruction, both formal and informal, including innate values of compassion instilled in our children and youths. 

Let me remind you that, as educators, you are an extension of the home, reinforcing the teachings instilled from parents. The presence and influence of illicit drugs in our schools is a challenge not encountered when the Association was established. It is imperative that the Association broadens its scope and support systems and engage proactively with external networks to arrest the surge of such influences. Working in silos or in isolation is not an option. We need to work together and to fight this fight together – for our children.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I commend the Executive members of the Fijian Teachers Association, as well as its 4,600-plus multi-ethnic members, for your continued knowledge-sharing, guided by your constitution and mission statements. 

I encourage you to integrate learnings from the past into your forward pathways (Butu mawe), foster meaningful collaboration among yourselves, with Government, and relevant, external agencies (Solesolevaki), and set benchmarks that facilitate and empower the growth and resurgence of wholesome education in our schools for the betterment of our children and our nation (Cavuisausau).

While you celebrate the past, also embrace changes and dialogue on how you, as educators, can empower our children to take ownership of their learning experience, anchored in tradition, spiritual growth, and modern thought. 

I wish you all a productive conference as you set your benchmarks for this 90th Anniversary. 

May God bless you all and may God bless Fiji.  

Vinaka Vakalevu and Thank You.