Report teachers who arrive late to school.

This is the directive from Education Minister Filipe Bole after a series of complaints were made by parents about teachers having a habit of arriving late to school.

Bole has urged parents, school committees and managements to report on teachers arriving late to school, adding that unless for special circumstances, all those teachers who arrive late to school will have their pay docked.

He added the Ministry fully appreciates teachers who have been diligently working and abiding by their schools regulations, but will not tolerate those deliberately taking a casual attitude towards their work.

Meanwhile Bole has also issued a stern warning to maritime teachers in the Eastern Division not to take fibreglass boats to travel to and from the main land, adding that any maritime teacher that defies this directive will face severe disciplinary measures.

The warning follows reports received at Headquarters that on Monday, a fibre glass boat carrying 17 passengers, 12 of which were teachers from Gau, drifted in the Lomaiviti Waters, only to be rescued by a fisherman at 4am on Tuesday morning.

Prior to that, the Ministry had also received a report in which a fibre glass boat bringing teachers from Gau to Suva for the Term 1 holidays, capsized. Luckily, they managed to get ashore.

Bole has requested maritime teachers to make full use of government-franchised vessels, whose services, are now in operation.

He said time and again, maritime teachers are reminded to plan ahead, budget for their return trip and make no last minute arrangements, adding except for special circumstances, all maritime teachers should be in school by Day 1 of every school Term.

The Ministry has no other alternative but to dock teachers pay if they do not report to school on time.