The Fiji Teachers Union is concerned that teachers are being told to report to their teaching posts three days before school starts.
This follows a statement made by the Ministry of Education, informing teachers to be at their respective posts by next Wednesday.
FTU General Secretary, Agni Deo Singh says that the Ministry of Education should have notified the teachers before the close of the school year of 2017.
Singh also says that they have raised their concerns to the Ministry and have asked them not to penalize teachers who fail to turn up to their school on time.
He also says that they have submitted to the Ministry the involvement of teachers in workshops and other activities which should be minimized so they can enjoy their holiday.
Meanwhile speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretary for Education the Deputy Permanent Secretary for Education, Timoci Bure says that teachers were informed about the time frame given by the Ministry towards the end of Term 3 last year.
He says that teachers are aware of this as there is a need for them to prepare for the arrival of students on the 16th of this month.
He adds that teachers reporting back to school next Wednesday is a preliminary stage to the beginning of the year for teachers to be aware of the Ministry’s initiatives, the academic improvement of their school and giving them the space to plan the way forward for their school.
He adds that the claim made that the teachers are being pressured during the holiday, is not true.
Bure also says that only genuine reasons for teachers arriving after January 10th to their posts, will be accepted by the Ministry.
These reasons will include teachers enrolling their own children and delay in their mode of transportation due to their location.
Singh says they will have a discussion with the Ministry of Education next week.
