A-G ORDERS PROBE

How were teacher details leaked on social media?

Attorney-General and Minister responsible for Education Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has ordered an investigation into how personal information pertaining to teachers and teacher appointments have been leaked on social media.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum, who is with Prime

Minister Voreqe Bainimarama in Vanua Levu, has ordered Education Permanent Secretary Iowane Tiko that a report be tabled to him by midday today. Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said teachers should not be stressed when heading into classrooms to teach and the onus was on education administrative staff to ensure personal confidential information was not leaked. He also said archaic practices such as teachers needing to travel to main centres such as Suva to pick up their appointments needed to be done away with, especially in today’s age of technology. Mr Sayed-Khaiyum raised serious concerns and stressed that teachers were clients of the ministry and that clients’ welfare was paramount. A number of teachers have raised concerns with Mr Sayed-Khaiyum personally about the lack of communication from the ministry.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum shared their frustration after a teacher called him up to inform him that she had called the ministry three times, but there was no response and no one had returned her call.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum reiterated a phone line has been set up where teachers could call to clarify their contract issues.

He also revealed that he has sought assistance from the Civil Service Reform Management Unit director Jane Curran in sorting out various contractual issues that may arise regarding teachers’ contracts.