Five Fijian retired school teachers, currently serving as senior volunteers in the Republic of the Marshall islands(RMI), have this week relayed back their experiences and challenges at the completion of one year service.
The teachers who are part of the 12 member team, under the Fiji Volunteer Scheme (FVS) administered by the Public Service Commission (PSC) were the first group to be deployed under a bilateral agreement between Governments of Fiji and RMI.
Public Service permanent secretary, Parmesh Chand expressed gratitude to the former school teachers for their passion, dedication, hard work and sacrifice in choosing to leave their families behind and to teach Marshallese students.
“We are grateful for the contribution that these retired teachers are making as senior volunteers to our neighbouring country in the Pacific region,” he said.
“We are also thankful for the impact that these teachers have made as I was told, the President of the Republic of Marshall Islands His Excellency Christopher Jorebon Loeak who was chief guest at the Majuro High School prize giving was really impressed with the grades of the students.”
Ms Ruci Uluilakeba who teaches English for the lower classes said it took a lot of patience to teach students at Majuro High School.
“The Lord has prepared us to have patience and understanding of these children and I can say that we had a lot of challenges but we are proud that we have overcome them,” Ms Uluilakeba said.
Ms Dhina Yaya who teaches on Ebeye Island on Kwajalein Atoll said it was always her personal motto to go back into the field of teaching and she is thankful to Government and PSC for this opportunity to teach students in the Marshall Islands.
“I am thankful to the Marshallese Government and Fiji Government for this bilateral agreement which has allowed me to go as a Volunteer and as an Ambassador for Fiji. The people of the Marshall Islands have been very accommodating,” Ms Yaya said.
Ms Yaya added that there is a wealth of knowledge amongst the hardworking students which needed to be tapped into and moulded accordingly.
Mr Seremaia Tokalauvere said they had made a lot of changes and is thankful to God and to PSC and the Fiji Volunteer Scheme for having faith in him and the team in sending them to teach the children of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
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