“Education is a key factor in promoting development and has a positive impact on the Fijian economy and the overall health of its citizens. Education goes a long way, and investing in education is one of the most important ways with which we can improve our world”.
These were the sentiments of the Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Rosy Akbar, while speaking at the Namaka Public School 60th Anniversary celebrations in Nadi.
Minister Akbar highlighted that Namaka Public School began in 1962 and that it is an incredible milestone for the school.
“I salute and acknowledge the Governing Body, the Head Teacher, the staff, parents and the students of Namaka Public School on this special occasion and all those who have been the foundation for ensuring the ongoing successful operation of the school for the 60 years of contribution to our society and our nation."
“The Namaka Public School 60th Anniversary celebrations are very important events for acknowledging the hard work, sacrifice and dedication of the founder, management and teachers of students of this school over the years. I acknowledge the contribution of everyone associated with the school as the smallest contribution can lead to the greatest achievement and the Namaka Public School is a symbol of achievement. Schools also play a very important role in promoting a knowledge based society and ensuring students have the skills and information to make good choices and to be able to contribute to Fiji’s development”.
“I was brought up to believe in hard work because if you work hard there is nothing that you can't achieve in life. I was brought up to believe in the power of education to transform people's lives, it was something that was worth sacrificing for and that's how you build a better future,” she said.
Minister Akbar reminded students, teachers, and guardians that the Fijian Government believes in investing in children's education.
“Education is one of the priorities for the Government and it is the greatest investment we can make in our future. Education is also key to gender equality through women’s empowerment and by creating academic pathways and leadership opportunities for girls and instilling respect and values in boys."
“The Fijian Government has been consistent through the national budgetary process, investing millions into the education sector. For this financial year (2022-2023), $16.6 million has been allocated to fund scholarships, study loans, grants and this in itself speaks volumes of the Government's commitment and vision for an educated society,” she told the people of Nadi.
Minister Akbar also encouraged parents to give their best possible opportunities to their children and that means a lot of love and affection and a lot of care and attention to the children.
“From Government’s perspective, it is very much about the future of the country. As you can see, all the policies of the Government are focused on building the future of Fiji and when it comes to human resources, Government’s policies focus on education - in ensuring a highly educated Fijian society by making access to education easier”.
More than 1000 people from Nadi were present at the opening of the Namaka Public School 60th Anniversary Celebration in Nadi.