Parents are requested to be prepared to send their children to schools within their zones - Kumar

Parents and guardians are urged to prepare to send their children to other schools within their zones as the Ministry for Education is expecting an increase in the enrolment numbers of students next year.

Minister for Education Premila Kumar says they expect numbers in the urban areas, particularly Suva, Nausori, Nadi and Lautoka to increase further, so it will be important they accommodate these students in schools within the zones.

She says through the provisional admission, the Ministry will be able to plan infrastructure needs to cater for additional students enrolling in Year 1, as a result of the amendment to the enrolment policy.

Kumar says a home zone is a 2km radius from the school and students living in a particular school’s zone will be accepted in the school.

She adds students who do not have access to a school zone may apply to be enrolled in the nearest school.

The Minister says some exceptions to enrolment in the zone are if one or both parents work outside the zone, other siblings are schooling in a school that is outside the zone, certain preferred subjects are not offered in schools within the zone and preference for certain vernacular subjects is not offered in schools within the zone.

Kumar reiterates that they will only be allowing students to enrol in schools in their zones, and parents are requested to be prepared to send their children to other schools within their zones.