.gif)
The Fiji government has decided that all schools should now begin classes at 9am, saying the change is not about daylight savings.
Permanent secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office Lieutenant Colonel Pio Tikoduadua says the change, initially announced to help school children and their parents adjust to daylight savings hours, will stay in place even after the nation reverts to normal hours at April end.
Tikoduadua also said schools should not extend their hours end at their normal time.
The announcement follows a meeting yesterday between the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Education and Fiji’s Land Transport Authority.
Tikoduadua said school hours have been moved forward from 8am to 9am get all students to start school at the same time.
Commenting on the earlier announcement of school hours being adjusted temporarily to daylight savings, Fiji Teachers Union general secretary Agni Deo Singh earlier said principals had complained about the new hours.
Singh said the principals were concerned about achieving relevant target course coverage within the new, shortened school hours.
“This was especially for high schools where they say students will not be able to cover all the course requirements with schools starting at 9 a.m. and finishing off at 3 p.m.”
