A-G: Public Service Reforms Need Apolitical Approach
Public consultations were held in order to incorporate the new reforms in the Ministry of Education - Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum
Public Service Reforms need to be approached in an apolitical manner. The Attorney-General and the Minister for Education Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum highlighted this during the Fiji Head Teachers Association’s annual conference at Swami Vivekananda College Hall, Nadi yesterday.
“An apolitical approach should be taken to Public Service Reforms. We should not politicise it,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said. “One of the disappointments for us is that reforms took a bit longer than what was expected.
“Each profession, each subject area needs to be dealt in an apolitical manner.” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said that fundamental solutions needed to be undertaken in order to attain maximum efficiency.
“It will not only make civil service efficient, but most importantly it will create a work environment that is financially efficient,” he said.
In addition, public consultations were held in order to incorporate the new reforms in the Ministry of Education.
The A-G and Minister for Education also responded to a concern raised by the Fiji Head Teachers Association president, Atekini Duaibe claiming no proper consultation had been done, especially before the implementation of the Open Merit-Based Recruitment Process (OMRS) with the Ministry of Education.
“It’s incorrect to say that there has been no consultation done,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.
“Trade unions are present all throughout the country who from time to time chose to participate and chose not to participate. “More students are now being provided with the opportunity to go to school. We have more females in the school system than ever before.”
He also highlighted that the school curriculum would need a change in order to match the needs and requirements of students.
“Not only do we want to make the subjects relevant to students in Fiji, but also make it easier for teachers to teach,” Mr SayedKhaiyum said.
“A general stock take in all schools throughout Fiji will be undertaken to assess the different needs of schools.
“In this way the Government can better identify the need areas and attend to it accordingly.”
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said that general infrastructure and basic amenities should be present in schools to foster effective education to everyone. Edited by Percy Kean