Serious concerns are being raised about the current state of Jasper Williams High School, with former students and families calling for urgent intervention by the Ministry of Education and the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma.
Veniana Vosavakadua, a trustee of the Jasper Alumni Association and a former student now living in Sydney, says the school’s academic, spiritual, and cultural standards have significantly declined in recent years.
She says Jasper’s academic performance has dropped, and the school has not achieved a 100 percent pass rate for several years.
Vosavakadua is questioning why students who do not meet the school’s traditional entry standards are now being admitted, leaving teachers overstretched.
She says concerns about leadership decisions have also grown, and long-held traditions, such as recognising first, second, and third place during prizegivings, were removed this year, leaving many parents questioning why student achievements are no longer being acknowledged.
She adds that parents and former students are heartbroken by the weakening of the school’s spiritual life, especially as Jasper is a Methodist institution.
Vosavakadua also highlights additional issues, including poor upkeep of facilities, with a dormitory still closed due to leaking, and that last school term, the hostel was without power for three nights.
She says hostel girls have also been studying in the dining hall instead of the school hall, leading to overcrowding and students spilling outside at night.
Vosavakadua says the most concerning new directive is the instruction for hostel girls to bring their own single bed next year.
She says this has never been required in Jasper’s entire history.
She adds that many students come from maritime areas or the interior of Fiji and the Pacific, and asking parents to purchase and transport a bed, in addition to hostel fees and other expenses, places an unnecessary and unrealistic burden on families who are already sacrificing so much.
She says for the sake of the girls and the future of Jasper, it is time for new leadership, and the Association believes a change in the Principal and Vice Principal is necessary to restore stability, accountability, and direction.
In response to questions, Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro confirms that they have been made aware of the issue.
He says the Divisional Education Office in the West has been asked to investigate, and they are awaiting a report.
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