Government through the National Fire Authority will strengthen its efforts to change community attitudes and boost fire safety awareness.
A significant fire safety initiative was today launched by the Minister for Local Government, Samuela Saumatua and the acting Minister for Education, Viliame Naupoto. This will now see Fire Safety Awareness introduced into school curriculums around the country.
Minister Saumatua highlighted that the initiative was only possible through the combined efforts of the National Fire Authority, the Ministry of Education and UNICEF.
“We witness a milestone achievement for our nation with the introduction of an enhanced Fire Safety teaching approach for our children at the primary school level,” Minister Saumatua said.
Minister Saumatua affirmed that this strategy toward changing the culture and mindset towards fire safety will lead to prevention of property fires and deaths due to fires.
“The enhancement of fire safety teachings in the education curriculum will embed the Fire Safety culture into children’s behavior and ensure the safety and security of the children”, Minister Saumatua said.
“We have now begun the journey towards a cultural revolution in an attempt to change community attitude and behavior towards Fire Safety, “Minister Saumatua said.
The Ministry of Education in partnership with the NFA developed the fire safety curriculum which will be piloted in fifty (50) primary schools before the National Implementation in 2014.
“My plea to the Ministry of Education is to effectively implement the curriculum and continue to work with the NFA in its regular review so that fire safety maintains its vitality and significance in Fiji’s education system,” Minister Saumatua said.
The new Student’s Fire Safety Activity Book for Classes 5 and 6 was launched and handed over to the Acting Minister for Education, Commander Viliame Naupoto.
“This initiative will save lives, saving properties, changing the behavior of our children for the betterment of their lives and the country they will lead in the future”, Minister Naupoto said.
“We assure you that we will provide the right leadership for the implementation of this and it is an effort that will be utilized well by the Ministry of Education,” Commander Naupoto said.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) provided $40,000 to develop the fire safety initiative.
UNICEF representative Mr Simon Molendijk who was also present at the event, said that the launching and development of the initiative was an opportunity for the students and was looking forward to further cooperation and support.
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