Faith-based school
With all due respect to the honourable Education Minister and the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination director — from a Christian perspective, I believe it would be wise to consider the request coming from the head of the Roman Catholic Church in Fiji.
Normally I would be on the Government side as I fully agree with the Human Rights and Anti-Disrimination director but from a Christian perspective, it makes a lot of sense for a Christian faith-based school to be led by a principal or head teacher of that particular faith.
I am just talking about Christian schools here because for us old school who went through the church schools, it has been a norm to have a principal or head teacher of the faith.
Christian faith-based schools normally have morning worship and prayer among staff members and it would be sad to have a principal who sits in like an outsider.
Imagine having the regular school assembly and this non-Christian principal has to pretend to be a Christian, singing Christian hymns, reading the bible, preaching a lesson from it and praying to Jesus and the Christian God whom he or she does not believe?
Imagine having an iTaukei Christian as the principal of a Hindu or Muslim school?
Looking at this issue from this angle and I believe we can say that the head of the Roman Catholic Church has a point, after all it is a Christian faith-based school, with students being taught what the church believes and its principal should be one of its own.
I am sure that the Education Ministry can make this one exception for such obvious reasons.
It is a faith-based school and it is imperative that one of its faithful, captains or shepherds that school.
Savenaca Vakaliwaliwa, Suva
Excess loads
Can the new CEO of LTA please advise me why the cane trucks and water carts are “allowed” to carry excessive loads.
I believe they are exempted and can carry any amount above restricted loads.
A. Shariff Shah, Savusavu
Secular state
Impossible?
Really?
Your paper reports the permanent secretary of Education, Alison Burchell, (FJ Times 19th Jan) as saying that because Fiji is a secular state it is impossible to appoint a head of a school on religious beliefs.
I believe she obviously does not understand the meaning of a “secular state”.
Both New Zealand and Australia are secular states and both support their Catholic school systems and value them as part of their understanding of the role of a democratic government.
No one is suggesting that religion is the only qualification but it is of primary consideration in a Catholic school.
Are you “open” to democracy?
What happened to all those huge billboards which before the election proclaimed “Truth not Lies” and “FijiFirst” is for all Fijians’.
Have these been quietly put away?
NZ, Australia and our own past record show that where there is good will…
Fr. Kevin McGuire, QE Drive, Suva
Private partnership
The Ba and Lautoka hospitals have become Fiji’s first public private partnership.
The agreement opens up access to medical facilities and treatments which were unavailable in Fiji.
If they are cheaper and of high quality in comparison to the same found in other countries, I think this an initiative which many will appreciate.
People seeking relevant treatment will be able to save travelling and accommodation costs.
Mohammed Imraz Janif, Natabua, Lautoka
Next step
What would be our next step if an atheist is appointed to head a school?
Just wondering what impact it might have.
Imanueli Matanitobua, Korovou Town
I am offended
Sadly, if this heavy-handed impasse cannot be resolved amicably, then there is one solution.
The Government of the day should buy out all our 63 Catholic educational institutions and run them the way they feel it should.
How absurd?
Personally, in my 67 years and about 20 plus years active participation and sacrifice in our school and parish, I am truly offended and saddened we should be treated in this manner.
How did we get here?
Remain strong, your Grace.
Ronnie Chang, Nadi
Rugby and soccer
In rugby, we export our talent, very much in demand overseas.
In soccer, no one wants our talents overseas.
We have to import.
Development for another 10 years…you be the judge.
A. Shariff Shah, Savusavu
