A lesson for Aotearoa as we end Maori Language Week?

■ See also updates in Pacific Islands Weekly posting

Conversational iTaukei, Fiji Hindi

pn84

mandatory

SCHOOLS that do not teach conversational iTaukei and Fiji Hindi will come under the microscope for failing to deliver an education requirement which is mandatory under the 2013 Constitution.

This was highlighted by Education Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum during the Fiji Head Teachers Association conference in Nadi on Wednesday.

“Under the Fijian Constitution, there is a provision which I think many schools are not actually following,” he said while addressing about 600 primary school heads from across the country.

 “And it says that the teaching of conversational iTaukei and conversational Fiji Hindi is compulsory. In fact, in the next one week, I am sitting with the Ministry of Education to see how effectively it is being rolled out and that needs to be done.”

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum added that conversational vernacular was compulsory because it fostered improved understanding and relations among young people.

“We need to ensure that by giving our people access to language, we are able to create a lot better communication, a lot more effective communication, breakdown prejudices and create more understanding — that’s the purpose of it.”

Fiji Head Teachers Association president Atekini Duaibe had raised concerns about vernacular teachers in the education sector.

“It’s sad to say that some teachers make excuses that they cannot take these subjects because of their religious background and other reasons,” he said.

-- Felix Chaudhary, Fiji Times