Australian Govt commits AUD$12.5 million to rehabilitate 9 schools in the North

Minister for Education, Premila Kumar says as a long standing partner in education, the Australian Government has committed AUD$12.5 million to rehabilitate 9 schools in the North.

These schools are Marama Rua District School, Dreketi Primary School, Lekutu Secondary School, Lekutu District School, Bua District School, Dama District School, Ratu Luke Memorial Primary School, Wailevu West District School and Nukubolu Primary School.

Kumar says in the first six months of program implementation a suite of new designs for classrooms, teachers quarters, ablution blocks, and dormitories were developed.

She says these designs represented international best practices, category 5 cyclone certified, low technology, environmentally sustainable and have a high focus on accessibility for students with disabilities and safety for girls.

Kumar also says that the school classroom blocks have been designed with maximum flexibility with natural light, cross ventilation including partitioned walls that allow for use as evacuation centres.

The Minister says the construction works packages are now out for tenders and construction is expected to begin at all 9 schools by the end of this year.

To enable effective and timely high quality delivery the Australian Government agreed to manage the implementation of this project.

A program steering committee comprising the Permanent Secretary of Economy, Permanent Secretary for Education plus the development councillor from the Australian High Commission meet regularly to provide oversight and direction.

She also says the Ministry and DFAT spent $600,000 to purchase materials for the quick fixes, and these schools were repaired by the school management team, community members and the RFMF.

Kumar says some schools were badly damaged and needed to be rehabilitated.