The Head of a Secondary School in Sigatoka is facing investigation following the theft of Fiji Year 12 Certificate Examination papers from his office. Education Minister Aseri Radrodro confirmed that several examination papers, including those for Chemistry, Computer Studies, Technical Drawing, and Vosa Vakaviti, were stolen during the breach.
The incident has prompted a swift response from law enforcement, with the police already notified and investigations ongoing to determine the culprits and evaluate the scale of the security breach. Preliminary findings by the Nadroga/Navosa Education Office indicate the Head of School violated several procedures outlined in the Ministry’s Policy on External Examinations and Assessment. Specifically, the principal chose to store the national exam papers in his office rather than at the designated District Education Office and failed to report the break-in to education authorities in a timely manner.
In light of this serious lapse, the Acting Permanent Secretary for Education called an emergency meeting with senior officials to decide on the next steps for the Ministry. To ensure that the examinations for affected subjects can proceed as planned, supplementary exam papers have already been prepared.
Minister Radrodro has assured Year 12 students that their examinations will take place on schedule, without any alterations to the official timetable. The Examinations and Assessment Unit is working on a nationwide review of examination storage and security protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future. Radrodro emphasized the importance of strict adherence to examination policies by school heads to maintain the integrity of Fiji’s national exams.
This incident has broader implications for school security in Fiji, echoing similar concerns raised in various regions regarding safeguarding against break-ins. Enhanced security measures, including potential hiring of security personnel, have been recommended to protect educational institutions. This proactive approach aims to create a safer environment for students and reinforce trust among parents and the community. Through a unified effort, schools can work together with local authorities to build a secure educational atmosphere that ensures students can focus on their studies and examinations without fear of disruption.