'Fair work demands fair reward' – Head Teachers seek reform

Primary school leaders are pleading for a major overhaul of their salary structure and professional title, saying both fail to reflect the weight of their re­sponsibility.

Fiji Head Teachers Association president Johnson Rura said the salary band was "broken and un­fair", particularly for heads of larg­er schools.

"It is unjust that while expecta­tions continue to rise, remunera­tion has remained stagnant," he said.

"If your office (the ministry) de­mands excellence, then it must in­vest in it. Salaries must align with the leadership roles we play, not as a token of appreciation, but as rec­ognition of our value."

Mr Rura also called for the uni­form use of the title "principal" across both primary and secondary schools, arguing that names carry weight in how leadership is valued.

"A name change may seem minor to some, but it reframes the percep­tion of leadership and responsibil­ity. This is not about ego. It's about equity," he said.

"Secondary heads of schools, or principals, have been placed on a higher level than us and the title has an impact on this."

He stressed that the pay and title disparities undermine the dignity and parity of primary school lead­ership.

"This is not just about numbers. It's about workload and context. The workload is real. The respon­sibility is real. And so must be the recognition," Mr Rura said.

Mr Rura also raised concerns over heads of schools who oversee Early Childhood Education pro­grammes. He said they effectively work double shifts without proper recognition.

"This glaring mismatch cannot continue. Their dedication must be fully acknowledged, both in their official job descriptions and in their remuneration. Fair work demands fair reward," he said.