Claims of students without teachers
REPORTS are surfacing that teaching has not begun in schools around the Northern Division as some teachers are sick and have opted to remain at home.
According to parents who spoke to The Fiji Times, children have claimed they were only being supervised and no formal classes were being held since school resumed this week.
Fili Tareguci, whose children attend a secondary school in Labasa, says he has kept them at home because of the risk of contracting COVID-19 due to the recent surge in cases.
“They told me that there are no classes and keeping them in school with other children and teachers who travel from other parts of Labasa is a risk,” Mr Tareguci said.
“So if there are no classes yet, I feel it’s better to keep them within one bubble at home and have them safe rather than being exposed.”
Another parent, Sharujni Devi, said she had done the same.
“My children have also told me that there are no classes. They are just supervised in school and told to do their own work,” she claimed.
“Because of this situation, I feel it is better for me to keep them at home until teaching begins.”
Other parents who spoke to this newspaper on the condition of anonymity also echoed similar sentiments.
This newspaper also interviewed students in Labasa Town yesterday and most said there had been no formal face-to-face classes.
The students claimed most teachers in their schools were absent because they were sick. They said that a lot of students had not returned to school.
Questions sent to Education Minister Premilla Kumar and Education Ministry permanent secretary Dr Anjeela Jokhan remain unanswered when this edition went to press last night.