In applying a new staffing formula, the Education Ministry has revealed that it would only need to replace 374 teachers out of the total number that retired last week.

The Ministry confirmed that it has the required number of teachers to fill the vacant positions and there will be no need for the re-engagement of any of the retirees.

The Ministry is currently working to recruit and to transfer teachers in order to satisfy the staffing requirements of all schools and in order to maintain quality education, new leaders are currently undergoing training programs in all three divisions.

The Ministry also has a total number of 439 unemployed graduates who are ready to be recruited.

In addition, final year trainees of the Lautoka Teachers College will undergo their final work placement course from June 1st and they will be contracted into the service from the first term in 2010.

The Education Ministry is also undertaking a rationalization of subjects offered in secondary schools as over the years, there has been very little control over the number of subjects offered by schools.

The Ministry stressed that the measures being implemented ensures that they comply with the 10% reduction in the size of the civil service without compromising the quality of education.