Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro stresses that the Ministry will not hesitate to suspend schools from participating in the Deans Competition if there is violent behaviour from schools and students threaten the safety of others.
Radrodro has confirmed to fijivillage News this morning that he will call an urgent meeting with the Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Union officials today to discuss the future participation of schools and students who are found to be perpetuating violence and unruly behaviour.
Lelean Memorial School students and supporters were allegedly stoned by some students from a prominent school in Tailevu on their way back to Korovou on Friday afternoon.
Radrodro says he wants students and teachers to know that sports is a unifying activity and is also a professional career path for so many Fijians, and they cannot allow the sport to be marred by such indiscipline and violence.
The Education Minister encourages all schools and students to hold serious discussions on this subject urgently.
He reminds all schools and students that provincial teams have in the past been suspended from participating in local competitions because their fans or teams have been violent and unruly, and the Ministry will not hesitate to consider the same.
Radrodro stresses that the safety of the general public, students and fans is paramount.
While speaking to fijivillage News, Lelean Memorial School U16 Raluve coordinator, Losalini Nailevu said they were allegedly stoned after the semi-finals for the Vodafone Deans Eastern Zone Secondary Schools Rugby Competition at Dawasamu ground on Friday.
She also says a Year 11 student in the bus was injured and taken to Korovou Hospital.
Police are investigating the incident.
