The rain could not dampen the celebrations as the final day of Suva Muslim Primary School’s Centennial Carnival brought students, parents, teachers, former students and the wider community together today to mark 100 years of the school’s journey.
The celebrations featured a week of activities, games and community celebrations, bringing together generations connected to the school.
Chairman of the Suva Muslim Primary School Centennial Committee, Mohammed Zeyaad Hussain says despite challenging weather conditions, the celebrations have remained incident-free.
Hussain says the celebrations are not over yet, with several centennial projects and activities still planned adding one of the major achievements during the centennial year was the school’s Centennial Hundred Plant Initiative, launched as a Sadaqah Jariyah project.
He says the cluster fundraising programme also helped raise funds while teaching students about financial literacy, teamwork, enterprise, responsibility and leadership.
Hussain says the school has also launched its new website as it takes its history into the digital era, while its centennial magazine is nearing completion and will be officially available during the annual awards ceremony.
He says one of the most important aspects of the four-day carnival was the involvement of parents, who he described as the school’s biggest support.
Hussain says student ambassadors also played an important role by advocating the carnival themes, dressing accordingly and committing themselves to the celebrations.
Meanwhile, Chief Guest and Managing Director of Heavy Duty Industries Shoreeq Azimullah says the school’s future leaders need to ensure young minds are equipped with the skills and tools required to enter the next era.
Azimullah also praised the school’s young ambassadors, saying he was impressed by their confidence and efforts throughout the celebrations.
He says their participation is a sign of leadership and an important form of training that cannot simply be taught in a classroom.
He also says every generation faces its own challenges, with technology now advancing at a rapid pace and changing the world on a daily basis.
He says schools need to become more technology-based as the tools of yesterday may not be enough to prepare children for the future.
Azimullah says artificial intelligence will change the job market, with some existing jobs disappearing and new ones being created.
Fiji Muslim League Suva Branch Vice President Farook Ahmed says the centennial is not simply about marking 100 years, but recognising the lives touched and communities strengthened by the school.
Ahmed says the school began as a vision of those who came before, who built it through sacrifice, faith and commitment.
He says the responsibility now lies with the present generation to ensure the institution does not merely survive, but continues to thrive.
