Press Statement

Ro Teimumu said quite apart from showing up their basic bad manners, and lack of common courtesy, what the Prime Minister’s office did by instructing the civil servants not meet or brief us was un-Fijian, real Fijians would never turn away visitors to their homes, that is not who we are and that is certainly not how we behave.

Ro Teimumu said that as their tour progressed and they had the opportunity to speak directly to the people including some government workers and civil servants it became very obvious that they all worked in fear of losing their jobs. They want to say something but are afraid because a colleague could report on them and they could lose their job, just for speaking the truth.  Some civil servants were quite upfront about it and said if they say anything bad about what is going on, they will be terminated, so they have to say good things, even though they know it’s wrong?

Yet during the same week that we were hearing from frightened government workers in the North, the PM was reported to have said to former Fiji citizens in Sydney quote "I have said it before and I say it again: The fact that you were made to feel unwelcome in your country of birth is the most shameful episode in our nation's history". According to the report, he also said that "being Fijian was much more than having a common name — it means to love one another and to have a caring heart’

Does Frank Bainimarama know that he is responsible for this most shameful period in our history? Or is he still in a state of denial? And as far as loving one and other and having a caring heart’ obviously for Frank Bainimarama his way of showing love and having a caring heart is:-

• Ignoring the pleas from families of all those citizens tortured abused and killed under his watch who have been denied justice, closure and compensation. Or
• Arresting and beating up opponents
• Declaring Professor Brij Lal and his wife ‘national security risks’ and banning them from returning to Fiji because of their political views, while inviting others to return.
• Inviting professor Yash Ghai to come and prepare a constitution and when he’s done his work, trash and burn it and ignore the people’s will  as expressed in the 2012 People draft, instead he imposes his own 2013 constitution, which is yet to be endorsed by the people.
• Deny the family of Puna Chand justice, by allowing Praveen Bala to continue as a Minister and delaying his court case by more than 2 years.

This is a dysfunctional Leader, heading a dysfunctional Government operating on the basis of instilling fear into thousands of civil servants by encouraging them to ‘look the other way’ and pretend that all is well when they all know it is not.

SOME OF THE ISSUES ENCOUNTERED IN OUR NORTH TOUR

The North tour was undertaken by me in my capacity as Opposition Leader, it is a constitutional appointment and as Opposition Leader I am duty bound to go to the people, meet and listen to their concerns, assess the progress or failures of government so as to ensure, we, the Opposition keep them accountable to our people. I was accompanied by Hon Nawaikula who is an Opposition Member from the North. This was not a SODELPA organized tour.

I offer a brief summary of some of the issues we encountered.

1:            Provincial Administrators:           Naulumatua House & Others     
 
Provincial Administrators were instructed by the Prime Minister’s office not to meet the Opposition Leader or her delegation during her North trip.  Despite this Ro Teimumu Kepa and Hon Niko Nawaikula visited all Provincial Administration offices that they passed through.
 
Ro Teimumu said, said it was clear the officials were embarrassed by what they were told to do, some of them had not heard the instructions so we told them to check to ensure they would not be victimized The advice from the PM ‘s office  came back, not to meet with the Opposition Leader.
 
This policy is consistent with the PM’s claims in Oct 26 2014 that only Fiji First supporters would receive development in the North not everyone. This policy was reiterated by the Attorney General back in February 2015 [copy attached] when we were first planning our visits to constituencies and government owned enterprises to be appraised on their activities.

The role of an Opposition in any democracy is to keep the government of the day accountable, all organizations owned or funded by taxpayers are not the private companies of the AG or PM, they belong ultimately to the people and as their representatives, the Opposition Members of Parliament  are entitled to visit and be appraised of their activities.

The attached letter should be sufficient proof to support our findings in the North that while the Prime Minister speaks of unity and working together, his plan in place remains divide and rule.
But we will push on regardless and cover the whole of Fiji and the people will eventually hear the truth of what is going on.

2: Bauxite Mining:              

Nawailevu village Bua.  

THE STATE CHEQUE OF $577,050.0  
         
You would think that after the ‘multimillion’ Bauxite deal between Government and Xinfa and the relentless defense of the benefits that the land owners are getting by Lands Minister, that the state of Nawailevu Village would have improved. It has not! It is the same as it was before the deal.

The so called $577,050 Government cheque presented to the Landowners 4 years and 8 months ago now hangs in the Turaga Ni Yavusa’s home.  The full proceeds from it have still not trickled down to the landowners.
From information provided by the landowners it would appear that they have only been able to access 25% of their funds. Approximately $288,000 has been distributed to members. The balance of $289,050 or 50% remains unpaid.

Add to this the initial good will of $600,000 which remains out of reach as this is only accessible through specific project applications from the landowners, which many have done, but most have so far been rejected?  This means about 75% of the funds due to Landowners so far remains unpaid, yet their resource has been taken and much of their land now remaining bare.

3.            Nabawalu Market
This market is in a dilapidated condition and repeated complaints from market vendors go unheeded, it is unhygienic and only 1 tap works. Vendors pay approximately $40 per month for fees, yet no improvements to the condition of the market have occurred.

4.            Nabawalu – Dreketi $228 million road works
Although this major works is occurring in the area, the level of local employment is negligible. According to a number of villages in the area only a handful of the local villages have employment on the project itself.

5.            Unhappy Infrastructure & Transport workers
Workers raised the matter of their employment security at the Ministry. Workers have been under temporary contracts for the past 8 years since 2008, opportunity for permanent employment has been continuously denied to them.

Under Temporary Work contracts, the employer is obliged to pay for their passage back home at the completion of their 3 months. On the day we arrived, they were ready to board the ferry when the PS called and ordered them all off the ferry and denied them their trip home.

This type of treatment of workers would never be allowed in a true democracy.

Concluding Remarks

There are many other issues that we will release details on over the coming weeks so that the people get to know what is really happening in Fiji. It is important for our people to become inquisitive and ‘look behind’ the PR rhetoric orchestrated by QORVIS for the Government and issued via their propaganda outlets.
The truth is quite different to what the government & QORVIS have been spinning.
 
Ro Teimumu Kepa
Leader of the Opposition
October 23 2015

China Railway First dismisses Ro Teimumu's claims that only a few locals working on Nabouwalu-Dreketi project
 
Opposition Leader, Ro Teimumu Kepa China Railway First Group Fiji Company Limited has today clarified that majority of the employees working on the Nabouwalu to Dreketi highway project are locals. This follows claims made by Opposition Leader, Ro Teimumu Kepa today that she went on a Northern tour and is concerned that almost everyone working on the road project are from China. She says the road is good but she then further claimed that there are many Chinese workers.

According to statistics received by China Railway First Group Fiji Company Limited, 75% of the workers are locals. They have 488 local workers working on the project in the North while there are 135 workers from China.  The company’s Manager Public Relations, Donald Singh says the company is a major employment provider for about 7 years for locals in Fiji. Singh says he thinks the Opposition Leader or whoever for that matter, should first consult him before using incorrect information as political tools. Source: Fijivillage News

Bainimarama tells Kepa to stop thinking that she is the leader of the government

Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama says Ro Teimumu Kepa should wake up and stop thinking that she is the leader of the government of the day.

Bainimarama says people cannot just walk into any government office and start having meetings with civil servants and ask for information about government related matters.

Opposition Leader, Ro Teimumu Kepa raised concern in a press conference that the Prime Minister’s Office has issued a directive for the Provincial Administrators not to meet her when she went on a Northern tour earlier this week.

She says she wanted civil servants to share the information about their work with her.

Bainimarama says Ro Teimumu and the opposition as a whole should stop thinking that they are in government.

He says no one can just walk into any office and start asking for information.

Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says the opposition can ask questions about government services in parliament and they can also speak to the relevant ministers.

He also says this was a party visit and it was not sanctioned by parliament. Source: Fijivillage News

 
October 21, 2015
MEDIA RELEASE
Health bureaucracy leads to two deaths

The Ministry of Health must confirm whether bureaucracy and legal wrangling by the Ministry and the Solicitor-General’s Office has resulted in deaths of two patients urgently requiring life saving open-heart surgery. If this is so, it is a blight on our nation. This is a breach of Section 38 (2) of the 2013 Constitution, which states a person must not be denied emergency medical treatment.
 
We have been informed 20 patients booked for open-heart surgery, who had already collected funds and granted the reduced sum of $5000 each by the health ministry, have had their surgery deferred indefinitely.
 
This is reportedly because of alleged non-compliance and delays on the interpretation of a memorandum of agreement between the Ministry of Health and Sahyadri (Fiji), which is believed to be a subsidiary of Sahyadri Group India, whose surgeons were providing specialist treatment to Fiji patients.
 
We believe the Agreement between Sahyadri (Fiji) and the Health Ministry was valid for 5 years. Under the agreement surgeons and specialists from Sahyadri (India) commenced advanced cardiac, orthopaedic and neuro surgeries at the CWM and Lautoka Hospitals from 2013.
 
But 20 patients booked for open-heart surgery are now in life and death situation because this arrangement has been suspended for the last 6 weeks. The question that arises is this: If there were flaws in the agreement between the Health Ministry, Sahyadri (Fiji) or even Sahyadri (India), why wasn’t this detected before it was signed by the parties?
 
Why has it taken two years for the Health Ministry to seek legal opinion on the agreement? The current Minister for Health & Medical Services and his Assistant assumed office almost 13 months ago.
 
Soon after their appointment, the Assistant Minister for Health received wide publicity visiting patients who had undergone surgery performed by surgeons from Sahyadri (India). Why wasn’t the agreement scrutinised then, especially soon after they assumed office? 
 
And if alleged anomalies were detected in the agreement, why penalise the patients in urgent need of life-saving surgery? Whatever the alleged problems detected in the corporate arrangements between Sahyadri and Ministry of Health are, surgery must be allowed to go ahead without delay.
 
Reduction in grant
 
We believe as part of the reversals being put in place by the health ministry, the grant of $F 10,000 has been reduced to $5,000 for these cases since 2015. This makes it even more difficult for patients to be prepared for open-heart surgery. No clear answers are forthcoming from the health personnel apart from the “No money” cry since July 2015. Why?
 
Is it also true that in August 2015, when the Sahyadri (Fiji) team was undertaking free angiograms, training local personnel locally and additionally screening for open heart surgery to be undertaken in September 2015, midway through this process, the health management stopped their progression to seek legal opinion on a non clinical matter of supposed breach of the memorandum of agreement in place?
 
Section 38 (1) of the 2013 Constitution (Right to health) states, “The State must take reasonable measures within its available resources to achieve the progressive realization of the right of every person to health and to the conditions and facilities necessary to good health care services…” 38(3) states “…if the State claims that it does not have the resources to implement the right, it is the responsibility of the State to show that resources are not available”.
 
 
We have been informed in another unrelated case involving a patient requiring kidney treatment, the health ministry recalled the patient and terminated his treatment after more funds were needed due to the seriousness of the illness. The patient later died.
 
This is an extremely serious matter requiring immediate intervention from the Prime Minister to prevent loss of further lives.
 
Biman Prasad
NFP Leader

Vanuatu's deputy prime minister Moana Carcasses has been sentenced to four years in prison for bribery and corruption, joining 13 other MPs — or half of the nation's government — in prison. On October 9, Vanuatu's Supreme Court found Carcasses had made illegal payments amounting to 35 million Vatu ($452,000) to his fellow MPs when they were in opposition. Justice Mary Sey ruled that the payments were designed to influence MPs in their capacity as public officials.

Jailed Vanuatu MPs

• Deputy prime minister Moana Carcasses: 4 years
• Speaker Marcellino Pipite: 3 years
• Foreign minister Serge Vohor: 3 years
• Lands minister Paul Telukluk: 3 years
• Public works minister Tony Nari: 3.5 years
• Youth and sports minister Tony Wright: 3 years
• Climate change minister Thomas Laken: 3 years
• Sebastien Harry, Jonas James, John Amos, Steven Kalsakau, Silas Yatan, Arnold Prasad, Jean Yvees Chabot: 3 years
• Finance minister Willie Jimmy: 20 months suspended following guilty plea

The parliament's speaker, Marcellino Pipite, who led an unsuccessful attempt to pardon himself and the convicted MPs last week, has been sentenced to three years in prison. Upon sentencing, Justice Sey said those who "occupy a position of trust or authority can expect to be treated severely by the criminal law".

"Furthermore, where an offence involves a breach of trust, the court regards it as a significant aggravating factor," she said.

The other MPs, including former prime minister Serge Vohor, have also been sentenced to three-years jail. Carcasses, another former prime minister, received his four year sentence on multiple counts, to be served concurrently. As the MPs have been sentenced to two years imprisonment or more, they are not permitted to sit in Vanuatu's parliament. Carcasses' lawyer told local media he will be lodging an appeal against his sentence later today. Finance minister Willie Jimmy, the only MP to plead guilty to the corruption charges, was given a suspended sentence.

Ahead of the sentencing, Justice Sey called bribery a cancer and denounced the politicians' actions. "I remind myself that you are the first in Vanuatu to be prosecuted for this offence in your capacity as members of parliament at the time of the offending," she said.

"You were given power and authority. With power and authority, comes an obligation of trust. You betrayed that trust and in the cause of doing that you undermined the very institution that it was your duty to uphold. For that reason, as I've previously said, a fitting custodial sentence is required that fully reflects the need for denunciation and deterrence."

Pipite sparked a constitutional crisis when he pardoned himself and 13 other MPs of corruption charges while he was acting president. That move triggered another pending court case for 11 of the now-jailed MPs, and three lawyers, for conspiring to defeat the cause of justice.

School Management Association of Fiji
5th Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting
Rishikul College Hall, Valelevu, Nasinu, Fiji
17th October, 2015
 
Presidential Address
 
Theme: “Management of Sustainable and Quality Education”

The Chief Guest, Honorable Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts, Hon. Dr. Mahendra Reddy
Ministry of Education Officials
Invited Guests
Fellow Managements
Teachers, Students
Sponsors
Major Sponsor, Ranjeet Construction Ltd

Ladies and Gentlemen
 
Let me commend SMAF Secretariat and the Executive for their courage in organising this conference despite enormous financial challenges confronting SMAF this year.
 
I feel honoured and privilege to welcome the Minister for Education, Honourable Mahendra Reddy and other significant partners in education but not limited to Fiji Principals Association, Fiji Head Teachers Association, Fiji Teachers Union, Fijian Teachers Association, Save the Children Fund, parents, students and well-wishers.
 
Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the official opening of the 5th Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting of the School Management Association of Fiji by none other than the Honourable Minister for Education, Hon. Dr. Mahendra Reddy.
 
Honourable Minister, your presence here this morning testifies your commitment to giving a hearing to the school managers on whose behalf I stand to speak. Your presence here this morning also indicates your recognition of SMAF and your willingness to embrace and honour the partnership with SMAF. Ladies and gentlemen, SMAF was legally registered during the reigns of Bainimarama Government and with the blessings of the then Minister, Hon. Filipe Bole and Permanent Secretary, Dr.Brij Lal, who is now part of the Fiji First Government. It was in recognition of partnership of managements as owners of schools and Ministry of Education as providers of other resources that culminated in signing of a memorandum of agreement between SMAF and the Bainimarama government represented by Hon. Filipe Bole and Dr. Brij Lal.   
 
As the founding President of SMAF, I take my hat off for my school management colleagues across the country. Many of them not here today as they could not afford to finance their trip and stay cost. I pay tribute to those pioneer managers who have made a commendable contribution, to progress education for all the Fijian Children, for more than a hundred years. The pioneer managers lived a modest life, never received a salary and never had much for themselves, but they chose to sacrifice whatever little they could afford, and invest in children’s education voluntary.
 
There were no government grants then. Yet, our communities and faith-based organisations, demonstrated sheer will, outstanding courage; deep conviction and passion to build schools where people of Fiji including us seated here today, received  education that changed our life and the future of our country.
 
The education system in Fiji has been pioneered by faith-based organisations, and  missionaries in the pre-indentured era, dating back to 1830’s and joined by other migrants faiths in the post-indentured era since 1879, gaining momentum thereafter. The school management committees and communities, have made selfless sacrifices to embrace education, some, given the trying conditions paid the ultimate price with their life. One cannot grasp the history of struggle, without mentioning names like Hannna Dudley, the first European Christian Missionary and Methodist Missionary, Authur Lelean. There is no doubt that most of our first schools were grounded in churches, kovils, mandirs, temple, masjid or just thatched bures. In the yester years, not only management built schools, they employed teachers, paid salaries and took total control of education. The then colonial government had its own position on the education of natives and indentured labourers.
 
There has been a major transformation over a century as faith-based organisations and independent managements excelled in the construction of schools that have been demand driven.  Most urban schools had exponential growth, and today boast quality environment for teachers to work in. Much of these were achieved through fundraising. Successive governments, in particular, Ministry of Education, have enjoyed meaningful, symbiotic partnership creating a very strong bond between managements, parents, students and government for a century now. SMAF was therefore born to challenge managements and in our Honourable Minister’s words “…to think critically to think outside the box.”     

Managements have their own strong views on matters pertaining to education and I shall be speaking on some of those.

With the passage of time, managements slowly relinquished aspects of education, to the government in the firm belief, that the special character of schools would be maintained. Our belief and values underpin the notion that education must be concerned with the “whole of a person’s life which included spiritual and academic formation, based on the gospel of each and every faith based communities, operating schools.” This is clearly reflected in Methodist Church message to SMAF Conference.

Our schools created material and spiritual conditions for our full development. It provided a solid foundation, on which to build our lives. It guaranteed safety, we felt secure, we could anchor ourselves in the values that were taught to us, to complement our academic progress, and these noble aspirations, were reflected in the message by the Catholic Church to SMAF Conference.

Was it a mistake to relinquish aspects of education? Do faith-based organisations need a greater say in aspects of curriculum? Are we getting what we wanted to get from our schools? Are we equal partners? How much say do we have in school operations? Is our contribution accepted and translated into policy? Are our schools, are our buildings serving the purpose for which we vested? Are we being consulted? What is management status in this partnership, since the new Minster has taken over, and is this effective and equal. These are but only a few of the hundreds of questions confronting managements today.  

Ladies and gentlemen, the current spate of violence, mental illness, immorality, suicide, cheating amongst schools, cannot and must not be ignored. Colleagues the alarm bells are ringing - take heed, act now. In my opinion, we are offering band aid solutions to many of these problems. When children committed suicide, we had a suicide prevention day. When children drowned, the Ministry quickly announced that “swimming will be compulsory in all schools from beginning of Term Two 2015 confirmed by the Permanent Secretary .”(Fiji Times, 15th March, 2015)

“The Minister has now confirmed swimming classes will be a compulsory part of national curriculum from next year.” (Fiji TV 30/09/15)

When Charlie-Charlie came in, it created havoc in schools exposing the vulnerability within our education ethos. When the Minister gets involved, it is a serious matter. Ladies and gentlemen, “when faith is lost, when honour dies, the man is dead” – so it is said.

Children need to be imbibed with faith and generosity and not just logic and cold reasoning to fight fear and distrust that may lead to suicide. The solution to the problem lies deeper, that’s the point I am making.
    
Dear Managers, there are even more serious problems in our schools, arising out of views and opinions regarding the conduct of spiritual lessons such as the directive given to Suva Grammar School. The more alarming part of this whole saga is the silence amongst school managements, lack of cooperation, consultation and consensus amongst us to find a common ground and to take a confident stand. We have not been as proactive and as futuristic as we should have been. May be we thought it was somebody’s problem and anybody would solve it, only to realise it is everybody’s problem and nobody solved it.

SMAF advocates and campaigns as one of its objectives that the early years of child’s education be in their mother tongue and that children shall be grounded in their cultures in line with UNESCO Declarations. This is the right of every child and hence SMAF motto “Students First.” But do we have the back up from stakeholders. Does MoE fully understand why sometimes management want teachers of their choice?  So when you gave a press release, Hon. Minister, on 30th of June, 2015 “School Leaders, Principals and Managers Stuck with Ethnicity”  we thought you did not fully understand managements vision to inculcate values, virtues, ethos and aspirations. In one of your speeches, you raised our hope by announcing that you will build a society with “prodigious wisdom, built on solid foundation of values and virtues.”

We are not racist Hon.Minister. Our schools are a testimony that we are the most multiracial organisation.  We want teachers who not only can advance the academic pursuits of the community but also make contribution to the special culture of schools. When you appeal to the reason of the people you will never fail. Honourable Minister, you are not only Minister for Education, but also Minister for Heritage, Culture and Arts.
 
Our children from early childhood to at least up to primary schools are waiting for your blessing so that they are educated in an environment that empowers them to protect their heritage, that grounds them in their cultures by providing teachers who not only have formal qualification but also show leadership in promoting the special culture of the schools to save Fiji’s rich multiracial heritage including the indigenous arts, culture and heritage that is unique in this world.  
 
Dear School Managers, year in year out and on a daily basis several criticisms are being labelled at you. Some of these by teachers and school heads who don’t see eye to eye with school managements and come with different agenda. Many parents too have found it easier to complain to the Ministry and Minister about school managements. MoE too freely criticises management on media. Like my rights to offer critical opinion, other stakeholders too have a right to criticise us. Managers need to examine all views carefully and I know that managements are broadminded, wise people who will deal with the matters raised professionally, diplomatically and tactfully.  
 
The fee free grants given by the Fijian Government is a blessing. It has solved many problems confronting parents and children. For the schools, the grants, we get is not necessarily exorbitant as some people put it. That is what used to be collected in levies before this initiative. We are thankful to the government for such magnanimous initiative. However, there are issues that need to be resolved so that school managers are in a position to provide service to the schools. Under the six budget category, there is a 30% allocation for administration and management and operation. Yet MoE and school heads have the audacity to say that managers cannot use any fund to attend SMAF Conference. Please read circular dated 12/12/2014 which clearly outlines 2015 fee free grant allocation for schools and I quote:

‘administration/management and office operations 30%, building and compound maintenance 20%, IT, computer and vocational materials 15%, library and textbooks 10%, PEMAC and science equipment 10%, Stationery 15%.”
 
School management from rural, remote and small schools continue to call SMAF throughout the year on issue like virement of funds, financial policy, matters pertaining to rights of managers, appointment of school heads without consultation, servicing existing loan with government grant and capital development for which there is no provision under the current six categories of budget. It appears to most managers in the country that with the administration of new fee free grant, managements have lost their autonomy, and their operation expenditures have not been taken care of despite 30% allocation for administration, management and operation.     
 
There are also constant accusations against managers for abusing grants. In the Fiji Times of 30th June, 2015, the Honourable Minister publically announced that an audit carried out by the MoE has revealed that 20% of school managements in the country have abused grants. It is a very serious slur on the integrity. Managers have a challenge to ensure that our reputation doesn’t get tarnished. SMAF is available to assist those managers who ask for assistance in conducting meeting, financial reporting, school planning, budgeting and financing, etc. We can provide you with attachments to well-functioning managements whereby you can study their operations.

However, managers must know that the grant given by the government under six categories is operational grant and there is no separate allocation for capital development. This money is to repair and retain schools to the highest possible standard to provide sustainable quality education. Please note we have no other source of income for capital development as we are not charging any rent for the use of buildings nor are we doing fundraising.     
 
Dear Managers, our honour, respect, dignity and reputation is in our hands. We need to upgrade ourselves, we need to educate ourselves and we need to improve the way in which we manage our schools so that we continue to offer sustainable quality education. It’s our moral obligation to ensure all school age children are in school. I call upon all parents and children to please take advantage of the assistance provided by the government to ensure that all Fijian children are educated enough to stand on their own feet. If our people stand on their own feet, our country can only then, stand on its own feet and we can one day with much pride call our nation truly independent.
 
Managers must step up their performance and commitment to schools and we can make every school in Fiji a model school. If we have made the choice to be managers of schools, we must have time; have passion and a clear vision to guide our schools to success. We need to support and inspire our school heads and teachers to improve their performance and improve student learning, without humiliating any teachers, student or parent. I salute the teachers for their selfless sacrifice.  
 
Dear Managers, abuse is a tricky word but I would like to believe that when abuse is referred to here. It doesn’t mean managements have used school money to build their own homes or have parties. I would like to believe that money allocated on one thing, has been used to build or repair or purchase another thing based on the exigencies at the school. Or even money from one sister school to another as short term loan to complete an important project because the other school may not have generated enough money, that is well understood amongst us as we are on the ground. My advice is let us follow procedure and guidelines, apply for virement though I know the approval may come too late.     
 
Honourable Minister, SMAF doesn’t write blogs, SMAF has not shared its critical viewpoint of MOE in media and despite going over the air several times, we have reserved our critical opinions to discuss matters face to face in the spirit of progressive dialogue and in your words

“to think critically and outside the box,”

I am inspired to critically examine the work of your Ministry since you have been in office for more than a year now.  I hope to provoke all of you into dialogue and anticipate positive outcome at the end of this conference to achieve the objectives of the conference theme.
  
The inspiration for this critical examination comes from two sources. The first from a distinguished educationist the former Vice Chancellor of the USP, Dr. James Maraj who in opening the Fiji teachers Union Conference one year said that
“the paths to progress are not sign posted with platitudinous remarks.”

The second inspiration comes from Swami Tadananda’s article printed in the present newsletter of SMAF. I invite all of you to read the article in full.  The article makes the point that sustainable quality education is the responsibility of all stakeholders engaged in education.  A principle of success, as stated in the article, is ‘continuity of sound policy.’ For a reform to be successful, the implementation must

“go through the rigorous process of proper review of existing systems by competent professionals, clear identification of areas of reforms, selection of  appropriate reform measures, their methodologies and policies, strategic implementation plan, funds, education and training of the stakeholders, actual implementation, evaluation, assessments and feedback.”      

The questions that emerge is how have we conducted our reforms? Were these evidence based? Were researches carried out by competent professionals? Were they credible? Were they circulated to stakeholders or published?
    
I am tempted to quote in full the respected saint Swami Vivekananda’s statement which Swami Tadananda has used:

“Freedom is the first condition of growth. What you do not make free, will never grow. The idea that you can make others grow, that you can direct and guide them, always retaining for yourself the freedom of the teacher, is nonsense, a dangerous lie which has retarded the growth of millions of human beings in this world. Let men have the light of liberty. That is the only condition of growth.”

Our conference theme for 2015, “Management of Sustainable and Quality Education,” can only be successful and meaningful when founded on sound democratic principles of participation dialogue and discussions. I have therefore decided to focus only on this aspect of sustainable quality education and I will leave the rest to the Honorable Minister. Policies will flounder or be successful depending on the degree of ownership of the policies by the people.

Proposition

The thesis I am going to propound ladies and gentlemen is that, the Ministry for Education, since the appointment of the new Minister, has willy-nilly made unilateral decisions which fall short of carrying the stakeholders with it. The process of decision making and implementation strategy clearly demonstrates a lack of adherence to any theory or philosophy in the formulation and implementation of the so-called reforms.
 
I will propound this thesis in the firm belief that I am now operating in a society which respects and is founded on democratic values. I do so in the spirit of the Vice Chancellor’s statement that the future of Fiji is not founded on platitudinous remarks. We can only go forward if we continue to critically evaluate what we are doing. That would be the wider meaning of freedom so necessary as Swami Vivekananda said

“is the condition of growth.”

Honorable Minister Sir, if you think you can decide for everyone else and usurp the right of all other stakeholders can only be seen in Vivekanand’s word as “nonsense, a dangerous lie which has retarded the growth of millions of human beings in this world.”

You have yourself very ably argued at numerous forums that your vision for education in Fiji is to produce people who

“should now……think outside the box.”

In your maiden speech, you said that

“we need to breed and channel out critical thinkers, we need thinkers – a thinking society.” 

You promised that this is what you will do. It is in this context of freedom that I am offering a critical point of view, with a great hope that it will be taken in that spirit and we will all come out the better for it. 
 
The Reforms

Honorable Minster, speedy implementation of reform measures, without sufficient ground work, preparation, training, provision of infrastructure support has put the education institutions in a state of fear, confusion, indecision, bewilderment and in a state of deep frustration leading sometimes to inaction. The almost daily reforms can only be summarized in management policy terms as based on a theory of ‘muddling through.’ Let me give you a few examples Honorable Minister:

“On November 8th 2014, you publicly announced that “despite having exams for Year 6, students will be allowed to progress to Year 10. Students will then choose which stream they wish to further their education, higher education stream or technical education stream.”
Clearly you are saying that those who do not pass will go to technical vocational schools that you are establishing.

“On 30th November 2014, you reaffirm your position that after Year 10, we would want students with less aptitude to go to technical college and find stream or pathway and still end up at university.”
Then on 8th September 2015, you change your stance and announced:

“there will be no student repeating class up to Year 11 even if they fail exams. You further add whether students pass or fail, they will proceed to years 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12.”

Honorable Minister this happens on daily basis. I am accusing you of “daily dose of reforms willy nilly and muddling through policies.”  

Fiji Sun of 4th June, 2015 in writing on reforms writes and I quote

“Minister Allays Teachers fears. Teachers had been told that they have nothing to fear from reforms and that no teacher will be sent home for non-performance as a reason.”

Honorable Minister, when stakeholders, such as teachers, parents and children are not included in the reforms and are not able to take ownership of reforms, we will live in a state of fear, confusion and frustrations. The state has considerable power, you too Honorable Minister have considerable power, both over the people and resources. You can use this power to plough its decisions through with no regard to any alternative view, getting rid of those who have alternatives to offer and surrounding itself with a bunch of ‘yes’ men who will offer no constructive alternatives and meekly carry out all instructions.

Hon. Minister, we ask whether this is the best way of doing what you want to achieve? In the process of micromanaging you may be violating the fundamental principles of democracy which is founded on participation, dialogue and discussion. The major stakeholders in education are still waiting to be involved in the process of decision making and implementation. Indeed, in a very fundamental way, you have not kept up with your major promise. Allow me first to begin with the Fiji First source document, the manifesto.

Fiji First Manifesto

The manifesto quite rightly emphasized that the Fiji First Government will “build upon” the Charter Plans adopted by the previous military government. In clear terms the manifesto promised to “build upon the success of the many policies that the Bainimarama government has already put in place.”  The difference with the present government was expected to be in the execution. The hope was that it will be implemented with full regards to democratic participation, now that the Bainimarama government was elected by the free choice of the people.

I invite you Honorable Minister to examine your various policy statements. This will allow you to assess the extent to which your “own intention” has been entirely different from ‘building upon’ as the government had initially intended in the manifesto. You have instead talked about bringing fundamental and radical changes to the education system. The changes you advocate range from revision of education act, teacher administration load, teacher professionality, introduction of super principals, curriculum, examination, assessment, changes in the school management and the entire modus operandi.

No school manager in Fiji is opposed to change, we are not opposed to change. But we expect change which we can claim as our own, in which we have a shared responsibility, not one which is imposed. Democracy demands that as the Minister, you carry the management, stakeholders and the people with you. One effective way of doing this would be through the Education Commission you promised.
 
The Education Commission and Your Vision for the Future
In your maiden speech, one of the good things you promised to the people of Fiji was that the fundamental changes you are talking about will come as a result of Education Commission which you were to appoint this year. You repeated this at your FNU address on 7th November, 2014 where you said “that the Ministry will address the curriculum issue using a number of strategies which will culminate in the full work of an Education Commission next year.” 

I agree that the year is not over but there has been no talk about planning or preparation for the Commission. There is no discussion on the terms of reference or consultation on the makeup of the Commission.
At the FNU Conference you seem to have disclosed more of your vision than you did in the parliament.
At that conference you outlined our educational goals as having an “educated society with prodigious wisdom.”
You talked about “a society which has the ability to critically and logically think.”  A society “built on solid foundation of values and virtues and believe in fair mindedness and inclusiveness” – brilliant words.  

You repeated the same sentiments at the 2015 World Education Forum in Korea.
At the Korean Conference, you talked about a range of different factors that shape how Environmental Sustainable Development is viewed. For education, you said that it can be seen in four ways: society, environment, economy and culture. I am rather intrigued by what you said on society. “……. an understanding of social institutions and their role in change and development, as well as, the democratic and participatory systems which create opportunities for the expression of inclusion, rights and social justice concerns, respect, care, opinions, governance processes, the forging of consensus and the resolution of conflicts and differences.”   

We are left to wonder: to follow the laudable rhetoric delivered at the FNU and the World Education Forum or deal with the harsh realities of a daily dose of policy reforms formulated in direct contradiction to your ideals, unilaterally declared in a work environment infested by criticisms of cronyism, favoritism and victimization and publicly naming and shaming teachers’ performances.  

Just an example of your favoritism and victimization Honorable Minister, is your approval of a staggering sum of up to $500.00 for government paid salaried teachers to go on a junket to all the way Kadavu for their conference where you were their chief guest and you only after lot of begging by SMAF, approved $120.00 to managers to attend the conference here in Nasinu. I am confused, depressed, disappointed and unable to come to terms with such double standards and discrimination. Despite agreeing to allow use of only $120.00, you did not withdraw the circular to school heads which read that no grant shall be used for management conference.

To add salt to injury, your staff Adwin V. John wrote on Monday the 12th of October at 02:20pm and I quote, “Good afternoon, please note we cannot issue funds for the school manager’s conference.”     

But you agreed to fund two conferences of the Principals Association with second conference claiming $100.00 in registration alone this year. Is it too much to ask for goodwill from you to reciprocate? I thank you for financing school heads conference but I condemn the double standard you practice. Despite of what you have done, we are working with you and availing our primary and secondary schools and our voluntary labour in managing schools free for you and to the people of Fiji.  

Coming back to the issue, you went further to outline how in your view we could reach these goals. Honorable Minister, your vision is laudable but it is not the only view. The Education Commission would allow other visions to surface. When this is done, it would be in keeping with what you have said at the FNU and the World Conference in Korea. Hon. Minister Sir, we and the stakeholders invite you to put into practice your promises you announced that is “developing democratic and participatory systems.”  Too much is at stake for Fiji to allow just one view to prevail. History will blame us for not learning from the tyranny ravaged by those who have made unilateral decisions in the past, thinking that their view was the most superior.

Your observations on the curriculum are far reaching. And I dare say may not be easily understood by your own curriculum staff or the teachers who are to implement them. One important element you emphasized was
“context conditions in deciding what is right in particular circumstances.”  In other words, you are saying that the teachers should have the freedom to explore and develop contextual curriculum and that the curriculum should allow this to happen. These are praiseworthy aims but in my opinion pitched against the requirement to measure teacher effectiveness with examination results only becomes a major constraining factor.
 
Now, Honorable Minister, what do the teachers do? Teach to a contextual curriculum or rigorously and painfully follow syllabus in preparation for the exams, that too under unprecedented threat of x-percentage pass or face the guillotine. 
 
Managements, Honorable Minister, are not opposed to what you are saying but when one thinks outside the box, finds an inherent contradiction which perhaps can be resolved by a competent Commission. I suggest that you should not hijack or usurp the work of the Commission. Submit all your plans and visions to a Commission and let the people of beloved Fiji, including all the stakeholders in education, have their say as well. And then let us move forward together and I repeat and plead Hon. Minister let us move forward together. 
 
The idea of ‘entrepreneurship education’ could also be subjected to further thought by the same Commission. In talking about entrepreneurship education, you may wish to be mindful of the alternative belief that education should “embrace a more humane, more democratic approach to education.”

Teacher/Information Software

This is a laudable idea and should enable teachers to access their own information. It is also envisaged that teachers would be able to apply for promotion online and I thank you for this initiative. I call upon you Honourable Minister to take greater care of teachers terms and conditions of service.   

OHS in Schools
Another laudable initiative for training all teachers to ensure they all meet minimum OHS compliances and standards. This has always been a contentious issue with labour department charging exorbitant fees.

One Laptop per Child Policy
Our earnest hope is that this is done without discrimination. Giving it to some schools and not others doesn’t augur well. In case of financial hardships a modest fundraising be allowed to ensure access and equity. There are many good kind hearted parents who would willingly donate to a project because they value the contribution the schools are making to the community.  

Examination
Honourable Minister, there are serious problems in the way exams are handled and SMAF will need a meeting with you to sort out this matter. Stakeholders were consulted under Bainimarama government when exams were set aside and replaced with class based assessment. We were not consulted under your leadership when the decision was suddenly reversed as Fiji First manifesto emphasised that it would “build upon.”   We need to know if the policy will last or is it a trial run.
 
Quality of Work by Exams/ Curriculum
In a press release dated 05th February, 2015 you announced that in a bid to stop leakages all external exam papers will now be prepared by experts who have master’s degree rather than teachers – Sir the leakage of paper tells me that your experts have failed you.  The Ministry has sent 3-4years question papers with answers - there are errors. This is not acceptable. You have handpicked people at Ministry now and there should be zero tolerance. Furthermore, Hon. Minister, teaching exams will not fulfil your promise of providing critical thinkers. Children have left everything aside and are just revising 4 years past papers, as per your advice.
  
Teacher Registration Board
Please note that there is no school management association nominee on this board. Association had submitted a name and there has been no response from Ministry of Education.   

ICT and E-Learning in Schools
Swami Tandananda and Shree Vivekanand High School have given open invitation to school managers and principals to have a look at the model that you can adopt for your school. Hon.Minister, the IT Service to schools from Ministry needs to be seriously upgraded with extra competent staff to support the IT revolution that the Prime Minster has talked about.  

Library Service
The nucleus of learning in school is the library. Hon. Minster, you need to provide us with more qualified librarians so that they can provide support to the existing school librarians and we need to meet with you on this matter as well to explore further options.
Sports
This is very important area of holistic development but we need a national insurance cover for all children in the event of injuries or accidents. Some schools are paying insurance, some do not have the capacity. I would like to propose that you have a national policy and cover all students, so that schools can encourage participations.  

Swimming
The media release by the Permanents Secretary that swimming shall be compulsory from Term 2 of this year is causing us nightmare as parents are questioning managements why we are not teaching swimming when Ministry has publicly declared its compulsory. You must withdraw that directive and help us out.
 
Radio and Press
Hon. Minster, we are stakeholders in education and we hold Ministry of Education in high esteem. Please send capable people on radio broadcast and talkback as some people have neither the command of language nor the charisma to be on the radio. Their deliberations over the air has become a joke.

Advancement of Sustainable Education Goals and Solidarity amongst Stakeholders

The Post 2015 Education Agenda calls for partnership amongst all stakeholders. They included teachers and teacher unions, parents, faith-based organisations and school managements. It is about time the differences are resolved, unity is achieved so that   the 2030 Education Goals are achieved. 
 
Teacher Quality, Teacher Performance and Teacher Training

Honourable Minister, we need to discuss these matters at a forum that your Ministry can facilitate. Honourable Minister, your reforms have seriously undermined the ILO/UNESCO Recommendation on the Status of Teachers.       
 
Conclusion

Honourable Minister, I could talk about every single statement or policy and give it the same scrutiny and state options. The intention is not necessarily to oppose them, although some quite clearly needs to be opposed, but to seek ownership, to be involved, to find ways to become part of and to be supportive. This is not my wish but the wish of every manager and every stakeholder.  
 
There are three major stakeholders in the education sector. All three are organised. The first sector is the Ministry of Education of which you are the head. The second stakeholders are the teachers represented by the teacher organisations. The third is the school management which is represented by the communities we represent.  

The country knows that the teacher organisations are extremely dissatisfied with your policies as they affect their welfare and encroach on their professionalism. You have been in office more than a year now. You have given us a fairly difficult time by your actions such as forming breakaway associations. This is nether good for you nor for me and not for Fiji. 
 
I invite Honourable Minster to work as a team. I invite you to show leadership, to stop being vindictive and embrace the inclusive, participatory, democratic, respect, care and other values and virtues that you have delivered in several speeches.
 
We in SMAF are looking for an avenue to be consulted on a regular basis. We seek participation on the basis of equality and collegiality. Hon. Minister, if you think you can stand on the strength of the one leg of the Ministry alone, it may be a disaster.

As a partner in education development, we are calling upon you to announce the Education Commission you promised and let an independent team draw up plans for the future which we can openly discuss, debate, adopt and call the plans our own.

Our problem with the Ministry is not so much with your plans but with your method of implementation. We find no method and that is why we feel that the Ministry is merely ‘muddling through’ a set of policies without clear direction and foresight. We believe you can find this direction by implementing your base policy of announcing an Education Commission immediately. You will get the support of all the three sectors of education. Honourable Minister, today’s Fiji Sun, the daily newspaper which we find is very pro-government, has an editorial which reads “Reddy Needs Support.” (Fiji Sun 17th October 2015)

Yes, Honourable Minster, you do need support. We invite you to get us all together for the future of our children and for Fiji. 

Memories 4 Ever Photography added 370 new photos to the album: Meet n Greet Bula Dinner Ball Cruise 2015.
A big congratulations to the entire team of Fiji Independence Day Celebration for the success of this event. More than 500 people were on the Bella Vista cruise.
The evening was full of entertainment having live band accompanied by some of the famous singers from Fiji such as Jese Mucunabitu, Ken Jansen, Deni Costello and all time famous guitarist Tom Mawi. Also Dhol players and DJ Shailen who rocked the night away on the upper deck of Bella Vista and not to mention the delicious Buffet dinner.
Photos will speak the rest. Please enjoy the album. Photo courtesy: Memories 4 Ever Photography (M4E). Photos by Neil Chand. Please feel free to get yourself a soft copy of your choice of photo with the water mark.

Opposition Leader Ro Teimumu Kepa today [19 October] confirmed her office has received a copy of a letter by the Supervisor of Elections to FICAC Deputy Commissioner Langman about her allegation Hon Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has made a false declaration about his assets and liabilities.
 
Ro Teimumu also said her office had received an email from the office of the Commissioner of Police on Monday afternoon at 3pm advising that necessary attention will be given to her complaint. 
 
The alleged falsehood was contained in a formal statement Mr Sayed-Khaiyum signed as required under the Political Parties Decree. Mr Sayed-Khaiyum is Fiji’s Attorney General and Minister for Finance.
 
Ro Teimumu said she expected such an important matter of public interest to be treated with urgency. She said it was extraordinary and disturbing that the mainstream media in Fiji had so far failed to report on it while overseas media had carried significant coverage. This was further evidence of the poor state of media freedom in Fiji.
 
In her complaint Ro Teimumu said that in his declaration dated February 24th 2015, the Attorney General stated the value of his property, Lot 13 DP 9206, CT 37186 at $80,000. However on August 29th 2006, a certified true copy of Transfer No 593802, shows that Mr. Khaiyum’s company Midlife Investments paid Mr Faiyaz Koya, Mr Sahim Arif Khan, Mohammed Altaf and Anwar Hussein the sum of $100,000 for the Lot.
  
Ro Teimumu said Hon Sayed-Khaiyum not only has to answer for the value discrepancy between $80,000 and $100,000. He appears to have also overlooked the fact that on November 17th 2010, Lot 12 right next to his own Lot, was sold by Mr Siddiq Faizal Koya through Transfer Certificate No 738461 for $170,000.  The respective size of both Lots is the same, 1099 sq meters.
 
The Opposition Leader said the discrepancy in the value must be viewed  against  the Provisions of the Political Parties Decree , specifically Sec 24 (1), (2) (a) (i) and then Sec 24 (3). By his own deliberate actions Hon Sayed Khaiyum must also provide his explanation in terms of Sec 24 (5) relating to alleged false information and the severe penalties associated with this.
 
Ro Teimumu reiterated that she expects the full processes of the law to be applied to her complaint in the same speedy fashion which had been employed in other investigations.  She reminded the officials involved that the public that pays their salaries are entitled to this.

http://www.fijileaks.com/home/the-proof-aiyaz-khaiyum-lied-about-his-assets-declarations-to-the-supervisor-of-elections-and-opposition-leader-ro-kepa-wants-action-midlife-investment-ltd-paid-100000-to-faiyaz-koya-co-for-plot-of-land

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bail for Afghan businessman, ex-FRCA acting manager

AN Afghanistan businessman and the former acting manager boarder control for Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority (FRCA) appeared before Suva Magistrates court this afternoon on bribery charges.

Afghanistan national Abdul Shekeb and Josefa Marawa who appeared before Magistrate Jioji Boseiwaqa were both granted bail.

Shekeb is charged with bribery of a public servant and bribery while Marawa is facing charges of receiving a bribe.

The case has been adjourned to November 30. Source: Fiji Times

THREE police officers and a military personnel charged with sexual assault appeared at the Nasinu Magistrate Court this afternoon. Police officers Sanita Laqenasici, Jona Davonu, Semesi Naduka, and soldier Filimone Catimaibulu charged in relation to an alleged sexual assault on Iowane Benedito which occurred in November 2012.

All four have opted to be tried in the Magistrates' Court.

The State informed the Court that it will object to bail once a formal application for bail is made by the defence and all four have opted to be tried in the Magistrates' Court.

The State sought time from the Court to file full disclosures at the next mention date.

All accused have been further remanded and the matter has been adjourned to October 28. Source: Fiji Times