New Dorm For School

31/07/2020

NANISE NEIMILA

Students of Levuka Public School will no longer have to stay in makeshift dormitories after the construction of the state-of-the-art new boys’ dormitory.

The $1.8million building was complemented with the renovation of 20 buildings and the old structure had to be demolished and rebuilt using concrete block.

While officiating at the commissioning, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said these dormitories are critical to education in Fiji, whether they house 30 students or only a handful.

“We have student living quarters in many schools in Fiji because that is the only way we can guarantee an education to students who live too far from their schools to travel back and forth every day,” PM Bainimarama said

“My Government has made a commitment to guarantee free education, free textbooks and subsidised transportation to school for Fijian students.

“Not all students need to live at school, but we cannot have equal education for all students if we do not provide that option for those who do need it. And if we don’t give our students an equal education, we deny them equal opportunity in life. And that is something my Government will never consider,” he said.

Prime Minister Bainimarama said since Tropical Cyclone Winston, the Government is building all school buildings to the strongest standards so that they can withstand severe storms.

“Our schools have to be a safe place for our children. But as you all know, they also serve to shelter our communities when natural disasters hit. If your house is threatened, then you must be able to count on finding safety in the nearest school. And you can do that in Levuka.”

Prime Minister Bainimarama also handed over two fibreglass boats with engines to serve the people of Ovalau and the other islands in Lomaiviti.

“Both will serve to shorten the distances between communities and hasten the delivery of services in times of need. One will go to the Levuka Hospital, and it will allow the hospital staff to extend the reach of the hospital to distant rural communities,” he said.

“The other will allow the District Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to reach remote areas affected by disasters more quickly.”