'Teachers need more support to protect children'

Teachers are on the frontline of protecting children but need greater support from the Ministry of Education to handle growing safeguarding challenges in schools.

That was the message from Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission (FHRADC) commissioner Chantelle Khan at the Fiji Head Teachers Association 43rd Annual Conference at the Sheraton Fiji Golf and Beach Resort in Denarau, Nadi, today.

Ms Khan said teachers were often the first to recognise signs that a child was in trouble.

“You are the ones who see things that others may not see,” she said.

She said changes in a child’s behaviour, attendance, academic performance or appearance could be early warning signs that something was wrong.

But Ms Khan said teachers could not be expected to shoulder that responsibility without adequate support and resources from the Ministry of Education.

“The fact was, we realised that your Ministry of Education has a lot that they need to do to support the teachers on the ground to make sure that they have the tools that they need to assist the children and protect their rights.”

Ms Khan said children should not simply be regarded as future citizens, but as people whose rights must be protected now.

“Children are not merely future citizens. They are rights holders today.”

She stressed that teachers were frontline duty bearers who played a critical role in ensuring children’s rights were reflected in their everyday experiences at school.

This included ensuring children were treated with dignity and that discipline did not become violent or humiliating.

Ms Khan acknowledged that teachers were already dealing with mounting pressures, including overcrowded classrooms, increasing workloads, drugs, HIV and growing child safeguarding responsibilities.

She encouraged teachers to seek assistance from the commission when cases became difficult or when their concerns were not adequately addressed.

“As a human rights commissioner, I also want to encourage you that, like the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), human rights is a commission, and we are here,” she said.

Ms Khan said strengthening support for teachers was critical if Fiji was serious about protecting children and upholding their rights in schools.