Four school terms from 2023!
THE honourable Education Minister Premila Kumar announced the new dates for 2023 and there is no surprise that 2023 will witness four school terms, which have been lined alongside Australia and NZ and will allow students and teachers to have the much-needed breaks.
According to the minister, shorter terms and fourterm holidays will allow teachers to rest and recharge, reducing the burnout and, of course, the stress they go through.
Scarcity and abundance
IF you look closely into it, the prevailing economic and financial systems, strategises towards situations of “scarcity,” as can be seen by the uneven and unequal distribution, of resources and money.
The obvious alternative would be one based on “abundance”, where there is sharing and equality, with no real poverty or encumbrances and no one left behind really.
To achieve this requires more than physical changes, it requires changes in the mindset, the thinking and approaches.
Things in the world at this time, are changing everso rapidly, at many levels up and down the line, most of which we cannot even see.
We will soon feel these changes directly, or indirectly and it will be a change and actually “reset” the so called “great reset”, hopefully, for a better outcome, for everyone.
EDWARD BLAKELOCK
Admiral Circle Pacific Harbour
Multiple positions
She added that the model will allow students to have breaks, refresh and prepare for another 10 weeks.
The honourable minister also stated that the new school model will allow the spread of sporting activities over three terms so that term four will be devoted to exams.
I was glad to read that major stakeholders were consulted before making the decision, which I believe, is a win-win situation for students and teachers.
On the other hand, I salute schools for commemorating
THE FijiFirst party general secretary, Aiyaz SayedKhaiyum while announcing their provisional candidates for the general elections on Thursday 06/10 questioned how holding the three positions of Attorney-General, Minister for Elections and being general secretary of the FFP is considered a conflict of interest. I noted from the media report (FT 07/10) that the A-G did not deny that there was conflict, but he merely queried “How is that a conflict of interest...”.
I think that he does not believe that Fiji Day, Teachers Day and Children’s Day on Wednesday and Thursday.
Such celebrations add life to school.
I wish our students and teachers an enjoyable and rewarding one week school break and hope that the Year 12 and 13 students will take this opportunity to prepare well for their external exams in December!
RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM
Nadawa, Nasinu there is absence of conflict with holding these three positions at the same time, but he is just being political and trying to parry the allegations of conflict of interest by The People’s Alliance party. Perhaps he needs to explain the reason why civil servants have to resign before they stand for elections.
The A-G may also wish to note that he makes laws which govern his own activity as general secretary of a party. My own definition is conflict of interest occurs when one occupies positions of influence at the same time and where making a decision in one position may have a direct or indirect effect in one’s own role in another entity. My personal view is that even if there is a possibility that this could happen, then there is conflict of interest. He stated that holding a ministerial position in Government while holding a leading role in a political party is not new and he quoted Laisenia Qarase’s case.
I would like to remind the honourable A-G that two wrongs do not make it right.
If it was wrong in the past, then it is still wrong in the present.
Anyway, Qarase was the Party Leader while the A-G is the general secretary. You can work out the difference. Just saying. EMOSI BALEI
Suva
Conflict of interest
ACCORDING to Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum there is no conflict of interest in him holding the post of secretary of the ruling FijiFirst party and at the same time being Minister for Elections and Attorney-General (FT 7/10).
Could an independent expert provide an assessment on whether there is a conflict of interest as there seems to be widespread public perception that there is such a conflict?
RAJEND NAIDU
Sydney, Australia