The Ministry of Education has lost 2396 teachers from 2018 to June 2023, says permanent secretary Selina Kuruleca.

She said 61 per cent of these teachers left the ministry through resignations.

During the National Education Summit in Nadi yesterday, Ms Kuruleca said this was the most serious threat that challenged the sustainability of education progress in the country.

The summit, which is underway in Denarau, Nadi, draws participants from the education sector including religious organisations, Fijian Teachers Association and the Fiji Teachers Union.

The summit aims to be an avenue where stakeholders can discuss solutions to address issues faced by the education sector.

“We are losing teachers every month and the rate of losing teachers is quite high,” Ms Kuruleca told participants.

“Some months we have 67 resigning and, in some months, its 87,” she said.

“We lost 440 teachers from January to June alone.”

She said from 2018 to 2023, 51 per cent of teachers who resigned were from secondary schools, 8 per cent from early childhood education and 40 per cent from primary schools.

“We have had some conversation with teachers who are leaving primary school such as head teachers with 15 to 20 years of experience,” Ms Kuruleca said.

“Why? Because they are going to be a butcher in Australia. Why? Because they are paid $40 an hour.”

She challenged participants to discuss how Fiji could continue to attract good candidates to be teachers and make teaching attractive.

“How can we talk with our Vuvale partners?

“How can we make package attractive? Some will say that remittance is high, but does it have to cost us the education of our children,” Ms Kuruleca said.

“Do we need to consider other ways to look into the PALM scheme?

“Because it is alarming and this will be the biggest disruptive factor in our education sector.”

The summit ends on Friday.

Feedback: inoke.rabonu@fijisun.com.fj