FTU calls for more school counsellors due to teacher shortage and rising student issues

With about 100 teachers leaving the country every month and the remaining teachers having to look after more students, concerns are being raised by the Fiji Teachers Union on student discipline and the need for school counsellors in each school.

This has been highlighted by FTU General Secretary Muniappa Goundar who says it is becoming very difficult for teachers to look after so many students and the quality of education provided is also being affected.

He says there are many cases that are coming up in schools lately in terms of drug abuse in schools, bullying, and unnecessary parental intervention in the running of the school.

Goundar says for this reason, it's very important to have counsellors in primary and secondary school.

He says they need to have trained counsellors who will be able to help our students in terms of the discipline that they may be lacking.

The General Secretary adds that they need counsellors in every school rather than having them at the district level.

Questions have been sent to the Education Ministry. They are yet to respond.