30 Jan 2019

Fiji PM defends stance over church school heads

3:47 pm on 30 January 2019

Fiji's prime minister has defended the government's stance in an ongoing row with faith-based organisations over the appointment of school principals.

Frank Bainimarama

Frank Bainimarama Photo: RNZ / Koroi Hawkins

The Fiji Times reported Mr Bainimarama said it was not the job of school teachers to make children understand their faith better.

They were there to help students progress academically and to prepare them for the future, he said.

Mr Bainimarama said disseminating faith to children was the role of every parent and it should begin at home.

The Catholic Church in Fiji has said it may close its schools if it can't resolve a stand-off with the government over the appointment of non-Catholic principals at two of its schools.

Other religious groups have added their support to the Catholic Church over the issue.