Buakonikai Primary School in Rabi receives solar power system and Starlink connection

Accessing the World Wide Web will not be a problem for the students and teachers of Buakonikai Primary School on Rabi Island after the Government of Australia, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Its Time Foundation, launched a new solar power system and Starlink satellite internet connection at the remote island school.

The Australian High Commission says the partnership will also develop an effective model for monitoring and maintaining the solar energy system at Buakonikai Primary School that could be replicated across other schools in Fiji.

They say under the renewed and elevated Vuvale Partnership, Australia and Fiji remain committed to taking action on climate change through energy transition and building climate-resilient societies.

The project was funded through Australia’s Pacific Climate Infrastructure Financing Partnership (PCIFP), which is an AUD350 million Australian Government initiative aimed at enhancing climate infrastructure in the Pacific and Timor-Leste.

Buakonikai Primary School Head Teacher Katarina Tubekoro says young people deserve to have every opportunity to reach their full potential, and she is excited to see what new opportunities are now available to them as their access to electricity and the internet improves.

Australian High Commission’s Counsellor Infrastructure and Climate Resilience Louise Scott says the new solar system at Buakonikai Primary School will have a transformational impact on students’ learning outcomes as they now benefit from sustainable, renewable energy that keeps the lights and computers on and the internet connected.

Its Time Foundation’s Founder, Rob Edwards OAM says in just six months, they have demonstrated what can be achieved by enabling children and young people in remote communities to access the benefits of a modern education that increasingly relies on computers and other electronic resources.

He says they are excited to build on their record of installing 30 remote school solar systems in Fiji and to develop a sustainable maintenance and funding model that will keep the lights on, now and into the future.