Seruiratu demands answers over 137 teacher salary upgrades

Opposition Leader Inia Seruiratu has demanded an explanation from the Government over what will happen to 137 teachers whose salary upgrade applications have not been identified for processing in the 2026-2027 financial year.

Mr Seruiratu raised the concern after Education Minister Aseri Radrodro responded to his Written Question 147/2026 in Parliament on the number of teachers who had applied for salary upgrades after obtaining upgraded qualifications.

According to Mr Seruiratu, 410 teachers applied for salary upgrades between August 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, but only 273 applications had been identified for processing in the current financial year.

“The Minister’s own response is concerning,” Mr Seruiratu said.

“Between 1 August 2025 and 30 June 2026, 410 teachers applied for salary upgrades after attaining and submitting upgraded qualifications. Yet only 273 applications have been identified for processing during the 2026–2027 financial year and even those are subject to the availability and release of the required funding.”

Mr Seruiratu questioned what would happen to the remaining teachers and whether those identified for processing had any certainty that their salary upgrades would be paid.

“What happens to the remaining 137 teachers?

“And even more importantly, what assurance do the 273 teachers have when the Minister himself qualifies their upgrades by saying they are subject to funding being available and released?”

He said teachers had invested their time and, in many cases, their own money to obtain higher qualifications and should be recognised for doing so.

“These 410 teachers did not simply wake up one morning and ask Government for more money. They sacrificed their own time, committed themselves to further study and in many cases, spent their own hard-earned money upgrading their qualifications so that they could become better educators and provide a better learning experience for our children.”

Mr Seruiratu accused the Government of poor planning, saying salary progression and qualification upgrades should have been anticipated and budgeted for by the Ministry of Education.

“If 410 applications were received, Government should have properly assessed the financial requirement and made adequate provision. Instead, only 273 have been identified for processing, with payment itself still qualified by the availability and release of funding.

“That is poor planning.”

He also criticised the Government’s spending priorities, claiming it could fund other areas while teachers remained uncertain about their salary upgrades.

“When it comes to itself, Government finds the money. When it comes to teachers, teachers are pushed to the back of the line.”

Mr Seruiratu said the situation was particularly concerning as Fiji continued to face the loss of experienced teachers.

“No wonder teachers are leaving in droves. I refuse to accept the excuse that Government simply does not have enough resources.”

He called on Mr Radrodro to explain when the remaining 137 applications would be processed, how much funding was required for all 410 applications and whether the 273 identified for processing were guaranteed their salary upgrades.

“Teachers have fulfilled their side of the bargain. Government must now fulfil its own.”

Mr Seruiratu also called on Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka to reassess the Government’s spending priorities.

“A Government that asks teachers to become better qualified but cannot properly budget to recognise those qualifications has its priorities wrong.

“Our teachers have invested in themselves because they believe in their profession and in the children they teach. It is time their Government demonstrated the same commitment to them.”