The Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts, Hon. Dr Mahendra Reddy is advising all school managements, teachers, parents and students to take a proactive approach as authorities monitor the movement of Tropical Cyclone Pam.
“I am pleading with all students around the country to please adhere to instructions given by their teachers and parents as we prepare for Cyclone Pam. We have noted in the past that students tend to ignore instructions. I hope that this time around all students and children around the country will take heed of all the instructions given and ensure that safety is paramount always,” Minister Reddy said.
“I wish to advise all parents to please carefully assess the weather warnings and make informed decisions regarding the movement of your children. Situations may differ in various parts of Fiji so we are giving parents the liberty to make right and just decisions in this challenging situation we are facing. If parents feel that it is not safe to send their children to school then they can keep them at home and ensure their safety.”
“I also wish to inform all school managements and school heads to secure their schools and ensure that all resources in the school are kept in a safe place. All school heads should also ensure that all loose materials are moved to a safer place and flood prone areas should start moving all valuable materials to areas above flood level,” Minister Reddy advised.
“We have also set up our DISMAC Team yesterday and schools can contact their district education office for any other queries they may have relating to their preparation for Cyclone Pam. Our nine district education offices in Sigatoka, Lautoka, Ba, Rakiraki, Nausori, Suva, Labasa, Savusavu and the Eastern Division are now active in operation gathering reports from schools within their districts.”
Minister Reddy said the DISMAC team at the Education Headquarters is now receiving daily reports from all education districts.
“All school heads are advised to contact their district education offices immediately for any assistance and advice. They should all work together and take heed of all the warnings given by the weather office to ensure the safety of our students, teachers and schools,” the Minister added.