Strike threat
inability of responsible staff to fulfil their duties.
“The permanent secretary is hopeless and incompetent for this job,” Mr Manumanunitoga said.
He claimed there were young people in their 20s and early 30s, who were not even teachers, doing the transfer of the teachers just by looking at the computer.
“They think this is a pond and can move any teacher anywhere and anytime without actually finding out their location of stay with families and the location of the school transfer,” he said.
He repeatedly highlighted that teachers were human beings who have families and children attending schools. “We need to get the verdict of our members first, lodge application according to law and submit it to all the agencies involved,” he added.
FTA has a membership base of close to 5000.
He revealed he had asked the Acting Prime Minister, Manoa Kamikamica, for an audience.
Mr Manumanunitoga claims there were no changes even after that meeting.
He recalled during his days as a working teacher, there used be education district officers’ nationwide.
These officers would have succession plans where they knew which teachers were retiring and who were best recommended for transfer.
However, this procedure was changed by the previous Government.
He was one of the applicants who applied for the permanent secretary position but was not selected.
Meanwhile, an email was sent to Ms Kuruleca requesting her response to these claims.
Earlier, she was on the phone with Mr Manumanunitoga for more than 10 minutes discussing several issues. “There was no mention from him of any of the things above on the protest, so I am unable to comment on the claims,” Ms Kuruleca said.
She said the ministry’s senior managers were working to support HR to complete the transfer requests.
“As of yesterday, there is over 87 per cent transfers processed, and we anticipate that this will be completed within the next week or two,” Ms Kuruleca said.
“We will continue to provide the necessary support and appropriate resourcing for the HR staff to complete this task.”
She admitted that part of the delay was because teachers were appealing their transfers for various reasons – including humanitarian grounds, sickly parents, spouse or children, close to a tertiary institution so that they could study.
Meanwhile, the Fiji Teachers Union declined to comment on the strike threat despite facing similar concerns.