Ministry Top 2 Admits Err of HR Unit
‘A total of 20 secondary school teachers were appointed twice in the transfer cycle, which shouldn’t have happened’.
Minister for Education Viliame Gavoka and his permanent secretary Selina Kuruleca have acknowledged that there was a mistake in the teacher transfer notices sent out this week.
As the new school term began on Monday, teachers were confused and upset about an oversight committed by the ministry’s human resources unit (HR Unit).
Mr Gavoka indicated that a total of 20 secondary school teachers were appointed twice in the transfer cycle which shouldn’t have happened. On Thursday, the Fijian Teachers Association (FTA) and Fiji Teachers Union (FTU) raised their concern about how the ministry handled teacher transfers.
Some of the teachers were either appointed twice or went to school last Monday only to learn that their replacements were already in
school without prior notice by the ministry.
In an email response, Mr Gavoka said the HR Unit had rectified the problem, and out of these 20 teachers, five had been appointed to new schools, while the other 15 will be accommodated once we finalise replacements for the 53 teachers who resigned while on overseas leave. “A total of 20 secondary school teachers were appointed twice in the transfer cycle, which shouldn’t have happened,” Mr Gavoka said. Mr Gavoka also echoed what his Permanent Secretary, Ms Kuruleca, had indicated that swapping back secondary school teachers to their respective fields may have added more fuel to the fire.
“The Ministry of Education confirms that though some transfers were from outside the transfer cycle, for example, for humanitarian reasons, an upgrade of qualifications, and some 100 secondary teachers who were teaching in primary school now being posted to secondary school, this may have resulted in some schools being overstaffed or understaffed; however, the transition has overall been fairly smooth,” Mr Gavoka said. Ms Kuruleca openly admitted that some teachers were shifted to other schools without actual transfer letters.
“Some teachers have moved without actual transfer letters, nothing in black and white; this may have also affected the number of staff in schools,” Ms Kuruleca said.