One of the main aims of the Fiji Teachers Union’s annual workshop is to encourage more women to take up leadership roles in the organisation.

The aim is to achieve 50 per cent  women in leadership.

General Secretary of Fiji Teachers Union, Agni Deo Singh made the comments while addressing a workshop at FTU Hall, Berry Road, yesterday.

“We are continuing to empower women. I think the major drawback is that we are still inhibited by the old cultural aspect where women always take the back seat and let the men lead,” he said.

“We are trying to take that mentality away.

We want men to encourage women to take part in leadership role.”

Mr Singh said FTU comprised 51 per cent women members and the union considered women empowerment its top priority.

“We have a separate women’s wing, which continues to hold district and divisional workshops,” he said.

“This is to develop women’s leadership capabilities so that they can take positions at district and national level,” Mr Singh said.

“This is an ongoing activity of ours, of having divisional workshops where women leaders from the district come in.

We empower women with all the knowledge and information on what the union is doing.

“We will discuss challenges faced and services the union provides to the members.

Women come from the four branches in the Central Division and they will go back and empower other women in their districts.”

Edited by Epineri Vula