Education Bill lacks disaster plan for schools

The proposed Education Bill fails to establish a framework for education continuity during emergencies, despite 120,000 students being left without education after Cyclone Winston in 2016, the Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS) has warned.

FCOSS programme manager Josaia Tokoni told the Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights yesterday that the bill does not address the reality of Fiji's vulnerability to natural disasters.

"The bill does not address this reality. It does not establish a framework for education continuity during emergencies," Mr Tokoni said.

"In 2016, when Cyclone Winston ravaged the country, an estimate of 120,000 students were left without education when at least 140 schools were damaged or destroyed."

He said schools were forced to serve as evacuation centres during disasters, further disrupting education.

Mr Tokoni highlighted that after Tropical Cyclone Yasa and Ana in 2021, more than 12,400 students were affected from nearly 130 schools, mostly on Vanua Levu.

"Students continued to face difficulties attending school because classrooms, walkways and roads were not being repaired despite the looming cyclone season," he said.

FCOSS presented seven key recommendations to strengthen the bill:

• Strengthen access for vulnerable students
• Make all school staff mandatory reporters of child abuse
• Mandate individualised education plans for students with disabilities
• Include civil society on Education Advisory Council
• Establish disaster resilience framework for schools
• Support community-led school development
• Provide targeted support to struggling families

Mr Tokoni said the bill also fails to address hidden costs of education such as transport and school supplies, which create barriers for vulnerable families.

"These families require targeted support, not just responsibility placing, to enable their children to access and succeed in education," he said.

Feedback: kaneta.naimatau@fijisun.com.fj