Invest school properties through insurance - Puamau

School management and the Government should seriously consider investing in school properties through insurance.

This is the message from the National Fire Authority CEO Sowane Puamau after two schools were damaged due to fire.

According to NFA, Desbhandhu Vitogo School in Lautoka was destroyed by a fire last Saturday, while on the 6th of this month, another fire destroyed some classrooms at the Lomaivuna High School in Naitasiri. Puamau says in light of the recent increase in school fires, including the significant Vatuwaqa Primary School (2022), RKS fires, and QVS fire incidents, they have intensified their efforts to mitigate fire risks in educational institutions.

He says according to their statistics, from January 2019 to the 15th of this month, a total of 22 buildings in schools around the country sustained more than 90 percent damage.

He further says this included 11 classrooms and offices, 5 dormitory buildings, 6 teachers’ quarters and a tool shed.

Puamau adds the cost of damage from these fires was more than $3.7 million. While urging the school management and the Government to consider investing in school properties through insurance, the CEO says a lot of investment in education has been lost in the recent school fires.

He says the Government’s investment in schools is enormous and fire safety is always questionable, particularly when school children are present in school buildings.

Puamau adds insurance is an avenue to secure that investment in buildings, office and school equipment, furniture, staff and students.

He says they are also collaborating closely with building and Government architects to ensure that all government buildings, particularly schools, meet the minimum fire safety requirements as outlined in the National Building Code of Fiji.

The CEO says they are also in the process of gathering data from the Ministry of Education regarding the ages of certain school blocks, which will help them tailor fire safety advice based on the specific risks associated with older structures.

He adds this initiative remains a top priority, and they will continue to provide updates as they progress towards completing the inspections and advancing fire safety education within schools.