‘Complaints directed to permanent secretary’

EDUCATION Minister Rosy Akbar says complaints lodged against teachers are directed towards the permanent secretary of the ministry.

She said a panel would be formed and they would then look into the complaint.

The minister said the panel also received legal advice from the Solicitor General’s office.

Ms Akbar made the comments after she was questioned by this newspaper on why complaints against teachers are not referred to the Public Service Disciplinary Tribunal.

The two teacher unions had serious concerns regarding how the ministry conducts its investigation against teachers.

Fiji Teachers Union (FTU) general secretary Agni Deo Singh claimed complaints against teachers were now referred to the permanent secretary of the ministry.

He said complaints lodged against any civil servant must be referred to the Public Service Disciplinary Tribunal.

In response, Ms Akbar said she would look into the issue, but currently, the permanent secretary and a panel looked into the complaints and how best cases would be dealt with after they heard from both parties.

“We have a very professional role to play and there is no room for sexual harassment, there is no room for mismanagement of funds, there is no room for corporal punishments and these are very serious issues and at many times they are given the warrant of termination,” she said.

“So they are given a fair go to put their side of the story to the panel and of course, their findings are submitted to the permanent secretary,” she added.