Teachers demand fair pay over 'unjust' civil service grouping
"If we value education, we must start by valuing educators," FTA general secretary Paula Manumanunitoga
Tuesday 26 August 2025 | 05:30
The association stressed that the prolonged vacancy periods place additional pressure on existing staff and disrupt learning for students, particularly in rural and maritime schools where teacher numbers are already limited.
Ronald Kumar
Teachers are more than civil servants-they are mentors and life-shapers.
That was the message from the Fijian Teachers Association (FTA), which has criticised the government's pay structure as unfair and dismissive of the realities of teaching.
Speaking at the FTA annual delegates conference in Suva yesterday, general secretary Paula Manumanunitoga said grouping teachers with other civil servants ignores the unique challenges they face.
"We deal with human lives. We teach character, values, and academics. Comparing us to office based civil servants is unfair," he said.
"You can't equate managing files to shaping future leaders."
Year two teacher Venilove Tuinalolo of Daku Village School in Tailevu said salaries do not reflect the work teachers do.
"Teachers deserve a pay rise. What we do every day does not align with our pay," she said, adding that many also manage issues such as student drug use on top of their teaching duties.
Mr Manumanunitoga noted that teachers in rural and maritime areas make major personal sacrifices from enduring difficult travel and poor housing to teaching with limited resources.
Many, he said, spend their own money on school supplies or to help hungry students, while struggling to meet their own living costs.
The FTA is urging Government to introduce a separate, fairer pay system that reflects the emotional, social, and intellectual demands of the profession.
In response, Education Minister Aseri Radrodro said a job evaluation was carried out in 2018, which resulted in salary increases in 2020.
Heads of schools and heads of departments also benefited from revised pay adjustments.
The minister further said the Coalition Government recognised the work of teachers, granting a further three per cent across the board increase this year.
"The current system sends the wrong message," Mr Manumanunitoga said.
"If we value education, we must start by valuing educators."
Feedback: rariqi.turner@fijisun.com.fj
