Suspended students at a Fiji high school are expected to return to classes next week when Term Three resumes.
Ratu Kadavulevu School. Photo: Supplied
The Education Ministry sent home 16 students at Ratu Kadavulevu School two weeks ago after they boycotted classes over differences with their principal.
The ministry was also forced to close the school for a week as a result of the protest by about 100 students.
Education Minister Rosy Akbar had since been criticised for her decision to suspend the Year 11 and Year 12 students.
Akbar said the students breached the ministry's Behaviour Management Policy and should be disciplined.
"We have not bowed down to anybody.
"We will go by our policies and the decision will be made by the ministry. But it's the students who are being affected and I hope good sense prevails."
Akbar said the suspended students continued to receive academic and counselling support.
The students had been calling for the removal of principal Arvind Prasad who had arrived at the school in January.
Prasad had since been relocated to another school after his request for a transfer was approved by the ministry.
Akbar said the students had been reminded they were bound by the Ministry's Behaviour Management Policy and any breaches would have consequences.
She said students should follow the proper channel of communication and report any grievances to the heads of school.
Akbar urged the students to use the school break period this week to "bond with their families and loved ones and return to school refocused and realigned on their future".
Minister of Education, Rosy Akbar Photo: Fiji Govt
Parent, ex-education ministers call for inquiry
Among the students returning to school is head boy Mosese Qionimacawa.
His mother said she was not happy with the ministry's handling of the situation.
Vasiti Qionimacawa told the Fiji Times she supported former education ministers Ro Teimumu Kepa and Taufa Vakatale's calls for a committee of inquiry into the grievances raised by the students.
Qionimacawa said the ministry should not have suspended the students.
She said instead the minister should address the issues raised by the students.
Meanwhile, the RKS Old Scholars Association said while it supported the ministry's decision to relocate the principal, it did not agree with the suspension of students.
Its president, Alivereti Yaya, told Fiji Village the principal had involved police in matters the students wanted to be dealt with internally.
The school's Student Council had claimed food shortage complaints were never addressed - among other grievances taken up with the principal.