Students of Nukubolu Primary School in the interior of Cakaudrove will now no longer have to study in tents after the commissioning of their new classrooms yesterday.
After the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Ana in 2021, students had to endure learning in harsh conditions in tents where they were vulnerable to excessive heat, getting wet in the rain, and frequently had to relocate to higher ground during floods.
Headteacher, Gade Yabaki, says these challenges did not stop teachers and students from striving towards academic excellence, turning a hopeful school into one that has attained a 100 percent pass rate for the past seven years.
Yabaki says the new facilities have given them a great new challenge, whereby they as a school need to strive for high in all areas of teaching and learning for the better future of the children of Nukubolu.
He adds that they are grateful to the Australian and the Fiji Governments for their assistance in ensuring quality education for their students.
While officiating at the commissioning, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad expressed Fiji’s deep appreciation to Australia for all the assistance provided over the years, which has funded rehabilitation works for nine schools in the North including Nukubolu.
Professor Prasad has assured parents and students of the Government’s commitment to education as a cornerstone of change and development, therefore receiving the highest allocation in the 2023-2024 National Budget.
Australia’s High Commissioner to Fiji, Ewen McDonald, says the school represented more than just bricks and water but solidifies the elevated Vuvale Partnership between Fiji and Australia, and empowering communities through inclusive and equitable education opportunities for all.
The new facilities include 5 classrooms, a toilet block, an administration room and a sick bay.
