Teacher appointment

Tukai Lagonilakeba, Nadi

As reported in the Fiji Sun yesterday on page 4, a school principal and non-Christian was appointed to head a Christian school but had his contract terminated because of his ethnicity and belief.

This is totally wrong, irresponsible and discriminating from the denomination involved. One cannot force any Fijian against his free will to join a religious denomination, it is both unconstitutional and morally wrong at the same time.

The Secretary for Communication of the Methodist Church in Fiji Reverend James Bhagwan must ensure that the religious policies of our Methodist Church comply with the supreme Law of our country - our Constitution. Privatise all your schools and make sure only Methodist teachers are qualified to teach there, but please do not pass the cost of paying teachers' salaries from increasing the Soli Vaka Misinare for all its members through your annual levies.

The Church management must inform its members on how they will fund the teachers' pay should they decide to privatise; all teachers throughout the country are civil servants, paid for through the Ministry of Education's annual budget. Grants from the Ministry also help in the running of the schools. Imagine the repercussions if Government withdraws the various grants it provides and teachers' salaries from Methodist owned Institutions, if they were to privatise their schools.