Levuka school urges return of institutional quarters for teachers

Teachers at Levuka Public School are calling for the construction of institutional quarters, saying the lack of staff housing leaves teachers scattered across Ovalau and affects their ability to respond during emergencies.

Principal Seru Banuve raised the issue during the Fijian Media Association town hall meeting, saying Government schools on the island needed dedicated accommodation similar to that provided at Queen Victoria School (QVS) and Ratu Kadavulevu School (RKS).

"When a teacher comes in, our teachers are eligible to quarters because we are a Government school. There needs to be a policy done to revert to institutional quarters," Mr Banuve said.

"Our teachers are not in the school compound they are scattered everywhere in the island. We are requesting to have institutional quarters on Levuka just like QVS, RKS because when there's something happens an emergency we are around."

Minister for Public Works Ro Filipe Tuisawau said the Government was already working towards an institutional housing framework.

"That process is still in progress, what you are saying today is where we are moving into – the institutional arrangement. That is work in progress."

He said responsibility for Government quarters was being transferred from the Ministry of Finance to the Ministry of Public Works before a new framework could be implemented.

"When the transfer from Ministry of Finance to Ministry of Public Works is finalized that we would look after quarters, then we will create a framework."

Government MP Mosese Bulitavu said the issue would be taken up with the relevant ministry.

"We cannot blame any previous government but the issue has been raised and we will be raising it with the ministry responsible."