The Education Ministry has stressed that private schools must register with the Ministry.

Minister Filipe Bole said there are eighteen private schools existing in Fiji including international schools, out of which only two are recognised by the Ministry.

Bole said private schools established in Fiji without the authorisation of the Ministry are unacceptable, and they must re-align themselves with the Ministry's guidelines.

He added that government controls the curriculum, fees and even the qualification of teachers, which also applies to private schools.

Bole said furthermore the Ministry of Education as regulator has the authority to walk into any school and be accessible to any information it seeks.