The Fiji Teachers Union is hoping that steps are announced in the 2018/2019 National Budget to reduce the teacher to pupil ratio to 1:30.
FTU General Secretary, Agni Deo Singh says in composite classes which is mostly in rural areas where one teacher is teaching two classes, they want the teacher pupil ratio to be 1:15.
Singh is asking the Ministry of Education to increase the in-service training budget so that teachers who have been teaching for a number of years can be provided with scholarships to upgrade their qualifications.
He adds that they want a full restoration of executive teacher positions in primary schools.
Singh says that executive teachers are senior teachers who also have the role to assist the head teachers by providing professional guidance to new recruits and younger teachers in primary schools and they get an allowance of $2000 per annum at the moment which FTU is asking the Ministry to increase.
FTU’s General Secretary is also asking the Ministry to establish counselor positions in all secondary schools as there is a serious problem with behavioural management of secondary school students which results in teachers imposing corporal punishment and losing their jobs at the end.
He adds that they are asking for an increase in the location allowance for teachers serving in rural schools to $2000 per teacher and $3000 per teacher in maritime schools.
Singh says they want the ministry to increase boarding allowances and to also increase the entry point salary of Certificate, Diploma and Degree holders which is currently between $19,000 to $22,000.
He says they want the certificate level entry teacher’s salary to be $20,000, diploma level entry salary to be $23,000 and the degree level entry salary to be $28,000.
Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum will deliver the 2018/2019 National Budget at 7.30pm tomorrow.
