The Kinoya Methodist Church Circuit in Fiji has raised serious concerns with regards to the leadership positions being taken up by people of other faiths in the Methodist Church schools in Fiji.
The Kinoya Circuit made a request in the Methodist Church Conference that the Principal’s positions in Methodist Church run schools should be given to Methodists.
The Church Secretary for Education, Waisake Ravatu then said that four Methodist school heads are non-Christians and six Methodist Schools are headed by non-Methodist denomination members.
Ravatu says that they are also concerned as the Methodists have increasingly become a minority in their schools.
He adds that in 2015 he had drafted a letter of agreement to the then Minister for Education Dr Mahendra Reddy which suggested the Principals and Head Teachers in Methodist Schools to be taken up by Methodist teachers however he says that the agreement was not considered.
Ravatu adds that the Methodist Church feels that the current open merit system does not consider one’s religion to take up leadership roles in Methodist schools.
He says at this point in time, faith based schools including Methodist, Seventh Day Adventist, Anglican, Hindu and Muslim schools have formed a team that will be submitting another request to the government for the reconsideration of leadership roles in religious schools.
This issue was discussed before the Prime Minister addressed the conference delegates yesterday.
While speaking at Centenary Church, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama stressed that the best qualified people are now being appointed to lead primary and secondary schools rather than the old ways of the past where teachers were appointed because of their religious belief.
Bainimarama says we all remember that faith‑based schools were once separated, and religious background was favoured over a person’s qualifications.
He says if we have someone who has exemplary qualifications, who is committed to Fijian students and who has a proven record of excellence, they want them managing a school, regardless of their faith.
Bainimarama also told the delegates that they have to remember, except for a very few fully private schools, the government is paying for the salaries of all teachers including head teachers and Principals in all schools even though they may be managed by faith‑based organisations or community based managements.
The Prime Minister says as a parent and a grandparent, he wants his children and grandchildren taught maths by those with the high qualifications in that subject matter and who have the classroom results to match. He says he wants them taught English by the best English instructor that is available, and taught physics by someone who has the best training.
Bainimarama says as parents, that is just common sense to want teachers we can trust, teachers who have proven results and who are high performers in their area of study when it comes to helping our students learn.
The Prime Minister also made it clear that every faith‑based educational institution in Fiji also has every right to provide religious instruction to its students, whether it receives government funding or not. He says this is the sacred promise enshrined for all time in Section 22 of the Fijian Constitution.
When questioned by Fijivillage if the Prime Minister’s message has changed their view and understanding of the issue, the President of the Methodist Church in Fiji, Reverend Dr Epineri Vakadewavosa says that they are trying to have talks with government.
Reverend Vakadewavosa also says that the motion was only brought up from one division and the matter is a continuous discussion.
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