Ministry of Education

Fiji plans to scrap Years 1 to 3 exams

 Minister of Education, Premila Kumar said there is no need to test the knowledge of students as they are too young and there needs to be space to allow the students to learn and grow.

The Minister also said they will review all subjects for these students with a view to remove some.

“And focus only on numeracy, literacy, civic and moral education. We want to focus on things like gardening, sports, vernacular, that’s all want to focus so that we are able to teach other things through civic and moral education.”

Fiji schools re-open

Children aged 5 to 12 have been at home since April last year while Year 12 and 13 students returned to classes in November.

Health Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete said the coronavirus is now endemic to Fiji and community transmission will lead to the same in schools.

Fiji school slammed for treatment of Covid infected student

This comes after the government announced two more cases of Covid-19 in the community, two children - one a student - from a settlement in the capital Suva.

Education Minister Rosy Akbar said it is unfortunate that the details of the student were released and are now circulating on social media.

Ms Akbar said the ministry strives to protect the interest of all the children and she reminded the public to be mindful of the sensitivity surrounding this issue.

She urged people to refrain from sharing such confidential information.

Tongan students encouraged to apply for 2021 Government scholarships

The scholarships are offered to individuals to undertake tertiary studies locally at the University of the South Pacific-Tonga Campus.

A government release said the National Scholarship Committee has allocated funds to support privately-funded students who are facing financial hardship due to COVID-19.

Tonga Education Ministry provides assistance to minimise disruption to children’s education

Families have been affected financially by national restrictions imposed due to COVID-19 as well as the devastation caused by TC Harold early last month.

The Ministry is assuring the public that education and training  will continue despite the economic disruptions and challenges.

During the first three weeks of the term, the Ministry provided free public transport for students to allow them to attend and return from school safely.

Last week the Ministry also extended the payment of Term 2 school fees for 2 weeks and the last payment is due on Friday, 15 May 2020.

Teachers back at work in PNG

The Education Minister, Joseph Yopyyopy said the teachers were required to begin preparing for classes.

He said the four weeks lost from term one, when the country first took measures to combat Covid-19, would be retrieved by adding an extra period to classes.

Schools should have recovered the lost time by term three, the minister added.

Meanwhile universities and other tertiary institutions are expected to resume their teaching today.

     

Tonga announces measures to minimise disruption to education in response to Covid-19

The stakeholders met this week and discussed the global spread of coronavirus and the likelihood of Tongan people getting infected due to mass gathering.

A statement said the meeting agreed to postpone the 2020 Secondary Schools’ Intercollege Sports, which was planned to be held 21-24 April until after the National Examinations in November.

Starting Monday, 23 March all Government schools will add an extra hour to their timetable per day, finishing at 4:30pm instead of 3:30pm.

Education shocker

Dr Mahendra Reddy warned that teachers would be demoted to clerks within the ministry if they became a liability to the school system.

There are more than 8000 teachers around the country.

In an interview, Dr Reddy said the underperforming teachers had Monday sick leaves, affairs with students, did not cover classes and were behind schedule.

He gave an example of how some schools were way ahead in terms of the curriculum coverage.