Despite the Education Ministry’s zero tolerance policy, corporal punishment is still commonly used, often in violent forms and must be stopped.

This was the overwhelming message from 29 students from around the country who submitted a manifesto to the Education Ministry on “Having a say on School in Fiji”.

Some of the recommendations made by these students is for the Education Ministry to make regular visits to schools to ensure that fees levied by school management are not too high and are equal across the board and that one education policy should be adopted by schools so that school management do not formulate their own manipulative and biased policies.

They want the Ministry to work with schools to stop racism, bribery and corruption.

The students have also recommended that children with disabilities should receive equal opportunity for education, for example, teachers should use sign language to teach deaf students and schools should be assessable to children with physical disabilities.

The Education Ministry is now expected to consider the recommendations in the manifesto to see how they can improve the ways in which children and young people experience school in Fiji.