‘Flirty teacher’ sparks concern after students speak out

Sexually explicit remarks allegedly made by a male teacher toward female students have sparked major concern.

Students and teachers at a rural co-educational secondary school in the central division raised allegations of inappropriate behaviour made by the teacher.

Written statements provided to this masthead indicated that at least two female students have been uncomfortable and fearful about speaking openly about their experiences.

The two senior students have written statements about the male teacher’s alleged misconduct.

Several teachers are understood to be aware of the students’ worries and have encouraged them to formally raise their concerns.

According to information shared with this masthead, the allegations include claims that the teacher made sexually explicit comments to the students and suggested he wanted to marry one of them, addressing her mother as his mother-in-law.

An educator, who requested anonymity for the safety of those involved, said the two students who initially raised concerns were related and had since become uncomfortable with the male teacher’s presence at the school.

The educator said other female students subsequently indicated experiencing similar discomfort with the teacher.

The teacher is reportedly still teaching at the school and coaches the girls’ rugby team.

The matter was dealt with internally in a meeting involving the concerned students and the male teacher.

It has been disclosed that the teacher had apologised to the students, who accepted the apology, and he was told not to repeat such behaviour.

Concerns remain over whether the matter should have escalated beyond the school, particularly as concerns have been raised that no appropriate safeguarding measures were put in place to protect the students.

Educators who supported the students in raising their complaints are concerned about possible repercussions, including claims that no effort was made to discipline the teacher.

The Fijian Teachers Association (FTA) has called for swift Police action against teachers accused of engaging in inappropriate relationships with students, saying such conduct has no place in Fiji’s classrooms.

FTA general secretary Paula Manumanunitoga said the association had not yet received details about the reported case, but stressed that teachers found to have committed such offences should be removed from the classroom and dealt with according to the law.

“FTA recommends that such teachers are not fit to be in the classroom. They are committing a crime in itself and that must be dealt with by police as soon as possible,” he said.

Mr Manumanunitoga also confirmed that an alleged teacher-student relationship had previously been discussed during a meeting involving the association and the Minister for Education.

He said the Minister for Education had taken a firm position on the matter and had directed that disciplinary action be taken against the teacher.

The FTA’s position highlights growing concerns over the protection of students and the responsibility of teachers to maintain professional boundaries in schools.

Efforts to get a comment from Education Minister Aseri Radrodro yesterday were unsuccessful before this edition went to press in the Fiji Sun print edition.