News

Shortage of skilled teachers a concern

May 8, 2018 5:12 am

The shortage of skilled teachers remains a serious concern for the Education Ministry.

Speaking before the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee today, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Timoci Bure says this has been an ongoing issue since 1987.

Bure says many qualified and established teachers migrated and in order to fill the vacuum, teachers who haven’t undertaken Teacher Training Programs have been hired.

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“This is a huge challenge for the Ministry and we’re trying our best to ensure that those who are recruited to the teaching profession from now on have some teacher training whether it be certificate or diploma.”

Bure says the Teacher Training Programs is a vital component of teaching, as it equips teachers with the necessary practical skills needed to become a teacher.

He adds due to the shortage many teachers were hired straight out of Universities and technical colleges without conducting their internship for the Teacher Training Program.