Preparations are underway for the much-anticipated double celebrations for Fiji Day and Education Day this Friday, October 9, with the theme: “Educating Fiji Towards Change, Peace and Progress.”
Simultaneous celebrations for Fiji’s 39th year of independence, will be staged in 3 centres- Suva’s Albert Park, Lautoka Methodist Primary School and Labasa’s St Mary’s Primary School.
Classes will not be conducted on Friday, as all schools around the country, will be celebrating this important national event.
In Suva, students, education stakeholders, RFMF Band, Fiji Police Band and the National Youth Band will begin the march at 9am from Victoria Parade to Albert Park.
At the same time in Labasa, march will begin from Macuata House to St Mary’s school ground while in Lautoka, students and teachers will assemble at the Lautoka Methodist Primary School ground at 8:30am.
The Chief Guest for the celebration in Suva will be the Acting President, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau. The Commissioner Western and the Commissioner Northern will officiate at their respective stations on the day.
Activities for the day include cultural programs, education displays and expositions, oratories and art shows.
A theme song has been composed for this year’s celebration and will be sung by more 600 students from selected schools in Suva.
Students will be provided lunch and refreshments on the day and the organising committee is expecting more than 700 students to be part of the celebration in each centre.
$40,000.00 has been budgeted for the celebrations.
The Education Ministry hopes that schools, parents and supporters of education in Fiji will be at these centres to be part of the celebration and witness how education in Fiji has evolved since independence.
Filipe Bole
Minister for Education, National Heritage, Culture and Arts, Youth and Sports, Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment,