SUVA – Education Minister Filipe Bole says gender equality is alive within his ministry. In an address marking World Teachers Day and its theme of “Teachers for Gender Equality”, Mr Bole said posts of headteachers and principals were equally available to men and women.
“There is no differentiation in salaries because there is a fixed structure for all levels,” Mr Bole said. “Promotion is done on merit because there is a minimum qualification requirement for vacancies.
“There are and have been women education officers, women directors, women divisional education officers, deputy and permanent secretaries ù they were once teachers.”
Mr Bole said for Fiji, the aim was to activate support from parents, guardians and stakeholders of the significance of teachers in society and in the classroom.
“Fiji’s kindergarten, infant, primary and secondary schools are provided with qualified, motivated and competent male and female teachers,” Mr Bole said.
“These teachers have made a vital contribution in our children’s lives both inside and outside the classroom.
“We are providing these teachers with obligatory financial, intellectual and social support for the purpose of attaining education for all by 2015.”
