Kuruleca to Investigate Alleged Child Abuse at Local Home
Fiji Sun gathered the individual was allegedly deprived of a formal education for four years and was in distress about their experience under the care of the home in question.
Monday 05 February 2024 | 11:51
Permanent Secretary of Education’s Selina Kuruleca. Photo: Ronald Kumar
School-aged children must be in school, says the Permanent Secretary for Education Selina Kuruleca, amidst reports Fiji Sun has received that a school-aged resident of a local home for vulnerable children and women has allegedly not been
in school for several years and made to do excessive work.
Fiji Sun gathered the individual was allegedly deprived of a formal education for four years and was in distress about their experience under the care of the home in question.
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Ms Kuruleca, who was appointed to her position last May, was not aware of the report, but told this newspaper she would want evidence so children in such circumstances would be brought to school.
If school-aged children are not in school, then we need to have a conversation with parents on why they’re not in school, she said.
Permanent Secretary of Education’s Selina Kuruleca. Photo: Ronald Kumar
The Fiji Country Gender Assessment 2023 highlighted the issue of children not in school and cited the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey that found a 1.3 per cent out-of-school rate for primary school-aged children and a 3.5 per cent out-of-school rate for lower secondary school-aged children.
The Survey said the out-of-school rate among upper secondary school-aged children was as high as 28.2 per cent.
MEHA data showed an overall year-on-year decline of 10 per cent in primary school enrolments and 15 per cent in secondary school enrolments from 2020 to 2021, the Fiji Gender Assessment said, adding that COVID-19 was a contributing factor.
Fiji Sun understands the reasons for the resident of the home not being in school are unknown at this stage.
The Social Welfare Department of the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection oversees residential homes for the vulnerable in Fiji.
Fiji Sun sent questions to the residential home in question but they were referred to the director Social Welfare Veremo Muria, who told this newspaper the Ministry would verify the information about the case and provide feedback to executive management.
Fiji Sun understands the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission has received a complaint and investigations are underway.
Feedback: jernese.macanawai@fijisun.com.fj
