The Minister for Education, Mr Filipe Bole has applauded the efforts by his Education Officers in Rakiraki who are serving the District of Ra for their community awareness program labelled “Operation Tabutabuvuli”.
Tabutabuvuli literally means a ‘habitual non-attendance of school’ and it is this pressing issue in the District of Ra that has prompted education officers to preach the good news about education and to dispel all myths and beliefs that deter students from attending school.
This operation came in place after reports surfaced of faith-based groups refusing to send their kids to school because of their religious convictions.
This operation targets school-aged children from 6 – 16 years, who are supposed to be at school but are wandering around their villages and communities. These children are quite vulnerable to the negative influences of their peers, who are already in the village and may resort to criminal activities if they are not guided properly at school.
Parents are encouraged to take a positive stand towards this exercise and be receptive to the suggestions provided by these education officers.
Led by the Principal Education Officer- Rakiraki, Mr Vilimone Dranivesi, the team had already visited the villages of Vatukacevaceva, Malake, Drauniivi and Veidrala.
Tomorrow, the officers will brief the Ra Provincial Council meeting on this exercise. More visits of a similar nature are expected to be carried out in the near future and village heads are requested to notify the Rakiraki District Education Office, if there are school-aged children not attending school in their villages.
The move by the Ministry’s Ra Office is really encouraging as the whole nation needs to back this exercise to ensure all children who are supposed to be at school are at school, not in the village, not in the plantation and not wandering in towns and cities.
Members of the public have a crucial role to play by reporting such kids to the nearest Ministry of Education office.
The rewards that come with a good education for our children is beyond measure; it is a valuable investment for the future of our families, our mataqalis (clans), our villages and of course our nation.
Hon Filipe Bole Minister for Education, National Heritage, Culture and Arts, Youth and Sports, Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment.
Do call Akuila Vuira the Education MLO on 3220575 for any clarifications.