The Queen Victoria School (QVS) – Find Another School (FAS) list is now on hold, confirmed Permanent Secretary for Education Iowane Tiko yesterday.

Mr Tiko said a meeting was scheduled today at Marela House with the principal of QVS to resolve the situation.

A frustrated parent Mosese Delai whose son’s name was on the list said he was happy that the Permanent Secretary for Education had intervened.

“I must thank the Permanent Secretary for Education for his intervention and we’re looking forward to his meeting tomorrow (today),” he said.

He said most of the parents were not aware of the list.

Parents affected had called him and had given their support to what he was doing.

According to Mr Delai, who was also a former QVS school teacher, those on the FAS list had disciplinary problems.

He said the school had a counsellor and he was supposed to counsel the students.

Mr Tiko stated in an earlier interview that the Permanent Secretary for Education was the only one to expel, suspend or give out the FAS list.

Mr Tiko said he was not informed about the list from QVS.

That list he said was supposed to be sent to the ministry.

He said when an FAS was issued by the ministry; it was also its responsibility to find schools for the students involved.

“The parents shouldn’t be looking for the school,” he said.

He said what was done at QVS was wrong.

Mr Tiko said principals knew about disciplinary cases they could deal with in schools and those that had to be referred to the ministry.

Edited by Caroline ratucadra

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