Over the years, the Education Ministry has been acknowledging with great pride, assistance and donations from individuals, NGOs, statutory bodies, donor agencies and overseas government aid to schools.
Today, in reaffirming the friendship and cooperation between the Republic of the Fiji Islands and the Republic of Korea, the Education Ministry signed an agreement with Booyoung Housing Company Limited of Korea over the donation of 1000 units of non-reflective metallic blackboards and 200 units of educational-purpose digital pianos.
Notable representatives of the Booyoung Housing Company Limited include the Chairman, Mr Lee Joong-keun (Chairman), the President, Mr Kim Eui-ki and Adviser, Mr Chang Myung-kwan.
The Education Ministry is headed by the Permanent Secretary, Ms Rokobua Naiyaga and Deputy Secretary Administration and Finance, Mr Josefa Sania.
The terms of the agreement include the following:
• The blackboards (240cm wide and 120cm high) are made of non-reflective coloured steel, and the digital pianos will be awarded to primary schools.
• The Korean company will be responsible for the transportation of blackboards to schools while for the pianos, it will be from Korea to a wharf in Fiji.
• The Korean company shall organise 3 to 4 days orientation sessions for Music Teachers to be acquainted with the operation and basic playing skills of the digital playing skills of the digital piano.
• The company will store into the pianos 5 Fiji songs with 4 Korean songs including the graduation song of Korea. It is envisaged that these songs will be played by students during festivals and cultural activities.
• The Ministry is expected to provide the list of schools that will be awarded with this assistance.
The assistance is a timely one for schools to improve its facilities and enhance the teaching and learning process in the classroom.
To the representatives of Booyoung Company Limited and the Korean Government, the Education Ministry once again extends a big “vinaka vakalevu” and thank you for this benevolent assistance.
Filipe Bole
Minister for Education, National Heritage, Culture and Arts, Youth and Sports, Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment.