The first lot of veterinary students graduated today after completing 5 and a half years of studies.
While officiating at the event Minister for Agriculture Dr. Mahendra Reddy says this is a milestone achievement and will go a long way in improving the livestock sector in the country.
This will also assist in upgrading and providing regular upskilling to our Vet assistants which will be a cost-effective way of providing veterinary service to our farmers in the Agriculture Ministry which is spread across throughout the country.
Our Animal Health and Husbandry extension officers can be upskilled, and we will not have to hunt for qualified veterinarians from foreign countries.
These new experts graduating today can now be utilized for consultation and providing service to individuals farmers, groups or corporations and government establishments on all aspects of livestock production and assist us in border control bio-security matters.
At the moment, we are actively pursuing the eradication of TB and Brucellosis amongst our beef and dairy cattle. This will provide much need support to further curve the spread of these diseases. I do hope that some of you will also consider establishing your own clinics to serve the public.
Years of hard work will finally pay off for Vijendra Rao who was one of the 228 students graduating from Fiji National University today.
Rao is a working student, who studied on Saturdays from a National Training and Productivity Centre satellite centre in Tavua.
He says, that this is a new beginning and he believes learning never stops,this graduation is just a part of his life-long learning process.
Being a Student Sponsored by TSLB Rao thanked the Government of Fiji for assisting him with a scholarship and loan to finance his studies.
He also thanked employers and other sponsors and donors who assisted in sponsoring education fees and expenses.
Lasiana Tinai who was amongst those that graduated was emotional as she reminisced on the challengers that she had to endure.
She says travelling from her village in Nadaro Vugalei to school and back home was very costly and tiring she remembered how she would at times feel that she did not want to attend classes because she woke up late or was financially unable.
She thanks her family for the support they gave her during her studies,and urges her peers to not let circumstances ruin their dreams.
Tinai now awaits government posting.
