Students in primary schools across the country will now have access to learning “Vosa VakaViti (iTaukei language) and Hindi as they have become compulsory subjects in schools.
The Minister for Education, National Heritage, Culture, Arts and Library Services Filipe Bole had directed that the two vernaculars be taught as compulsory subjects and that the conversational programme is to be implemented in all primary schools.
“As of this year, 2014, all primary schools are to teach Vosa VakaViti, Hindi and have the conversational programme. It is compulsory for all students from Year One to Year Eight to take the vernacular subjects,” said the Minister.
“It is vital that students understand and speak their own languages well. As Fijians, we must appreciate who we are and understanding the vernacular languages is important for us as individuals and as citizens of the country,” added Ambassador Bole.
The resources for the teaching of the vernaculars have been prepared by the Curriculum Development Unit of the Ministry of Education.
The direction from the Minister for Education fulfils Section 31 (3) of the Constitution of the Republic of Fiji which states that ‘Conversational and contemporary iTaukei and Fiji Hindi languages be taught as compulsory subjects in all primary schools’.
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