Parents and teachers question how schools will be run if Principals are appointed based on their religion

Questions are now being raised by some teachers and parents on how things will be handled if the faith based schools only have people from that particular religion heading those schools.

While public statements are now being made on the next step to be taken by the Catholic Church in Fiji as they push for Catholics to be appointed as their heads of schools, some teachers have contacted Fijivillage and said that they do not want appointments to be based on religion or race.

They say appointing people of your own kind would be against the current constitution.

They have also said that faith based schools already have religious classes in those schools and this is where the spiritual growth and development takes place. These schools have specific religious or scripture teachers.

Another issue being raised is that if every faith based school gets to have a head of their own faith, then a Catholic may only be promoted to Principal if there is a vacancy for the position in only the 19 secondary Catholic schools.

Concerns are being raised as some are now saying that if the Catholic Church has Catholics as their heads of schools, then the Methodist Church, Seventh Day Adventists, Assemblies of God, Gospel Church, Christian Mission Fellowship, Anglican Church, Pentecostal Church, Sanatan Dharam Pratinidhi Sabha, Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, TISI Sangam, Andhra Sangam, Gujerat Society and Fiji Muslim League would also want one of their own as heads of schools.

The teachers say that this would limit opportunities.

Questions are being raised on whether this would bring equality and unity or it would further discriminate people based on religion.

The concerned teachers have also asked what would happen if the committee run schools would want to appoint their own people as they say that hundreds of schools that are not faith based schools are run by committees.

They hope a truly open merit recruitment system is in place.

Some parents are also saying that they want the best people appointed for the job.

They also say that one Suva Muslim College had a Hindu Principal for some time and there were no issues as she was one of the best performing heads of schools in the country.

We have also been told that MGM Primary which is run by Gujerat Education Society has an iTaukei Headteacher, and the parents who have spoken to us say they have no issues with this.

People have also said that it is sad and disappointing now that teachers are being pointed out based on their religious beliefs.

Fijivillage is still trying to speak to Minister for Education, Rosy Akbar.