It’s sad that some kids in the village cannot read the Bible in iTaukei – GCC Chair

Concerns continue to be raised on the protection of our native language, with the Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs, Ratu Viliame Seruvakula, saying that it is sad that we have kids in the villages who cannot read the Bible in the iTaukei language.

While briefing the media after day 1 of the GCC meeting at the Valenibose in Draiba, Ratu Viliame said the concerns that were raised in Deuba by the GCC were the concerns on culture and language because the teaching of the Fijian vernacular language was not compulsory.

He highlighted that as a result, some children nowadays do not know how to read in the iTaukei language.

Ratu Viliame says they have already established a Native Language Commission that will look into what goes into the iTaukei dictionary.

The Chair adds that the outcome or product of that will be making the iTaukei language compulsory from class one to class three.

He says the teaching of the traditional culture in school from class one to class three is going to be made compulsory, as well in iTaukei schools.

He adds that he will be discussing this with the members today.

The GCC Chair also highlighted that he briefed the GCC members on the four projects that were initiated at the first meeting in Deuba last year.

Ratu Viliame says they have established a Board of Governors to look at the renovation of Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna Memorial School.

He says because the GCC did not exist for more than a decade and there were no Board of Governors, there was a lot of damage at the school.

He adds that he updated the chiefs on where the money has been spent and the work that still needs to be done.

The Chair says Queen Victoria School was a school that was a pilot project for traditional leadership, and the chiefs have asked for a link between the RFMF, the Ministry of Education, and the school to take QVS back to where it was and also help to train the future leaders of our country.

He also says that they relook at the review of the Native Land Laws of 1905, and it took a long time as this is the first time they are reviewing it after 119 years.

The GCC meeting will continue today.