Adi Titilia Naocobau, a Year 8 student at Bau District School is grateful to the Fiji government and the Australian government for the refurbishment of their school library.
Naocobau says they are deeply grateful for their generosity and thoughtfulness towards their students and the school community.
She says although their library already boasts several books, the quality of the volumes they provide is incomparable.
While officiating at the handover, Acting Counsellor for Human Development at the Australian High Commission, Fluer Calcutt, expressed Australia's pride in supporting the Ministry of Education's mission to provide all Fijian schoolchildren with access to high-quality library services that elevate teaching and learning.
She says they value their partnership with the Ministry of Education and appreciate its pivotal role in building and nurturing Fiji's future generations.
Calcutt highlighted the significance of the school library project within Australia's Fiji education program, describing it as a crucial pillar of community engagement.
She says through this initiative, Australia aims to instil in the younger generation a love for reading, both for leisure and as a means of acquiring knowledge and fostering positive lifelong habits.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education Viliame Gavoka expressed his gratitude to the Australian High Commission and the Australian government for their unwavering support in advancing Fiji's education sector.
He says this marks a significant day as they witness the fruition of the partnership between the Australian government, through the Coalition government, and the Ministry of Education, investing in library resources.
The Minister conveyed the transformative power of reading to the students, emphasising that books act as vehicles transporting imagination to new horizons of knowledge.
Gavoka says the library is not just a physical structure but an investment that will have a lasting impact on the children of Bau, fostering a new generation of educated individuals.
He also acknowledged the consistent support from the Australian government, particularly in initiatives aimed at enhancing education in remote villages such as Bau District School.
The Minister also expressed confidence that the library and its resources would significantly contribute to improving reading, comprehension, and communication skills, thereby positively influencing the literacy and numeracy proficiency of the 124 school children.
Gavoka also challenged everyone present to actively contribute to the advancement of their children's education, emphasizing that this investment is a crucial step towards the betterment and development of the school, the Vanua, the Yasana, and the nation as a whole.
