Some students coming to school without food – Basden Principal

Some students of Basden College in Newtown, Nasinu are coming to school without food as most of the families are living on or below the poverty line and the Principal says they are open to receive donations to feed them.

While speaking during the public consultation of the Education Act 1966 at Fiji National University’s Nasinu Campus, principal Waisale Tavatuilagi says some of these students are living in HART or squatter settlements and some of them have been pushed aside after coming to the urban area and living with relatives.

He says he buys a tin of biscuits while a teacher may buy a kilogram of sugar.

While acknowledging the government for subsidized transport assistance, Tavatuilagi asks what about the feeding of the children.

He says it’s heartbreaking to be classified as a HOPE school—meaning under-performing below 50 percent.

The principal says they became one due to low-performing student intake and under-resourcing but they have worked hard where for instance, one of their students scored 99 in Physics, 98 in Chemistry, and 97 in Biology last year.

He says their strategies are working as they have used the ketogenic model to support student learning and provide food through feeding programmes.

The principal adds that they are still expected to have a 95 percent pass rate by the Ministry of Education.

He says during enrolments, larger schools have caps, while smaller ones are expected to absorb the rest.

This leaves them with students who may not be academically ready, but they are still judged by the same standards as it is unfair and unrealistic.

Consultation on the Education Act continues in Levuka tomorrow.