Minister for Education Premila Kumar says whatever comments she made while commissioning the teachers’ quarters at the Naloto District School last week was done in the proper context.
Speaking at the school last week, Kumar had said that the Ministry is not obliged to provide teachers’ quarters in any school and this is done by the owners of the school.
She says the Ministry does not build staff quarters however Government stepped in to build the school after considering the extent of the damage following Cyclone Winston.
Kumar says the Ministry decided to assist because they knew that the community cannot do it on their own.
The Minister had also said that it was a relief to the community members as they did not have to take out any money from their own pockets.
While speaking to Fijivillage today, Kumar says her statement last week was made in a particular context, and she will not comment on the claims being made by Lenora Qereqeretabua.
However National Federation Party MP Lenora Qereqeretabua says Kumar’s arrogant and condescending comments last week at Naloto Primary School tell us everything that is wrong with the FijiFirst Government.
In a statement, Qereqeretabua says Kumar’s plea for the community’s gratitude is pathetic.
She says if anything, people should ask the Minister why it took nearly six years for the work to be done.
Qereqeretabua says it is the Government’s job to rebuild cyclone damaged schools and our taxes pay the Minister and her Ministry to do it.
The NFP MP says Kumar is behaving as if she has done the community a favour.
She further says it is the leadership of the community, the parents, old students, religious and social organisations and local businesses that created our schools decades ago.
Qereqeretabua says NFP will return the control of schools to the communities who built them and will support and consult communities.
