202 registered teachers still awaiting placement

A total of 202 teachers registered with the Fiji Teachers Registration Authority are still awaiting placement in schools, Parliament has been informed.

The figures were revealed by Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro in a written response to a question from Opposition MP Premila Kumar, who asked how many registered teachers were yet to be placed and how many teaching vacancies remained unfilled across early childhood, primary and secondary schools.

Mr Radrodro said that as of May 25, 2026, there were 202 registered teachers awaiting placement in schools.

The largest group comprised Early Childhood Education (ECE) teachers, with 128 awaiting placement. Another 66 were secondary school teachers, six were primary school teachers and two were qualified in Special Inclusive Education.

Among the secondary teachers awaiting placement were graduates qualified in subjects including Accounting and Economics, Mathematics and Physics, Biology and Chemistry, Geography and History, Education and Agriculture, Industrial Arts, Home Economics, Physical Education and Information Systems.

In his response, Mr Radrodro explained that when vacancies arise, school heads submit a Teacher Replacement Form and Recommendation Excel Form containing a list of qualified teachers for vacant positions.

The recommendations are then assessed by District Education Officers against the Teacher Criteria Guidelines before appointments are processed by the Ministry headquarters.

Mr Radrodro did not provide a figure for the number of unfilled teaching vacancies nationwide in his written response.

The question was submitted by Ms Kumar as part of Parliament's written question process.