Ministry to improve teacher‑to‑student ratios in schools - Acting PM

Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Civil Service Aiyaz Sayed‑Khaiyum has announced key reform programmes for the Ministry of Education to improve teacher‑to‑student ratios in schools and restructure the Education Offices and Ministry Headquarters.

Sayed-Khaiyum confirms that the Civil Service Reform Management Unit, with the Permanent Secretary for Education, will restructure the Ministry of Education’s Human Resources Department.

He says after spending time hearing from teachers throughout the country, it is clear they need access to better administrative services and a more supportive management structure, and that is what these reforms are all about.

The reforms will seek to promote merit‑based recruitment and selection within the Ministry and improve internal processes and procedures, job evaluations, contract issuance and an entire range of other services that support school‑based operations. 

He says the restructure will be backed by a Human Resources Strategy that calls for a higher standard of service delivery and ensures the Ministry is adequately and appropriately staffed to better support Fiji’s teachers and improve educational outcomes for young Fijians.

Management positions within the reformed Human Resources Structure were advertised on the 16th of this month and will close on the 4th of October.

The recruitment for the positions is being managed by the Civil Service Reform Management Unit to prevent any conflicts of interest within the Ministry of Education.

Sayed-Khaiyum says that the reform programme would complement ongoing work within the Ministry of Education to revise the structure of senior management and boost responsiveness to community needs.

He also thanked the Permanent Secretary for Education for the progress already made to increase transparency and accountability from senior management within the Ministry.

The reform to teacher staffing is being carried out by the Civil Service Reform Management Unit in conjunction with the World Bank Group. The World Bank Group will begin a separate evaluation of school‑based staffing ratios within the next two weeks to ensure resources and personnel are allocated effectively within the education sector.

Sayed-Khaiyum says the restructure of the Education Offices and Ministry Headquarters will begin next month.