Unfair treatment claims Education adviser suspended for allegedly circulating a message from Jokhan
SENIOR education adviser Marika Baleca says he was “unfairly treated” when he was suspended last month by the Education Ministry for something he claimed he did not commit.
He said the allegations against him was that he was responsible for circulating a message from Education Ministry permanent secretary Anjeela Jokhan about certain changes that were made within the ministry’s human resources unit.
As the senior education adviser-Nausori, he was overseeing 118 primary schools, 27 secondary schools and 140 Early Childhood Education schools within the three provinces of Tailevu, Naitasiri and Rewa.
“We have a Viber group for all heads of schools in Nausori, so I notified all heads of schools about a message from the permanent secretary on the changes that she had made in the ministry’s human resources where two acting heads of schools from Nausori and Navua were transferred to be attached at the ministry’s human resources unit,” Mr Baleca said.
“How the message ended up being circulated on social media, I was never responsible for that.
“As a senior adviser, I believe it was my responsibility to notify my heads of schools and I believe I did the right thing.”
He then questioned the move by Ms Jokhan to take on board the two acting heads of schools when there were qualified people within the ministry who could assist in the human resources department.
“I have worked 25 years in the Education Ministry and based on the nature of my suspension, I was treated unfairly,” he claimed.
“In the past, there were some teachers too who were allegedly involved in the circulation of materials from the ministry, why weren’t they suspended? What was different about mine?”
Mr Baleca said he worked with limited resources as a senior education adviser, but always managed to execute his responsibilities.
Mr Baleca said he would seek legal advice and assistance from the Fijian Teachers Association about his case.
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