Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Hon. Rosy Akbar yesterday presented 250 bags to disadvantaged school children.
The Ministry’s efforts to assist the children was supported by Janty Kanvan Limited who made the donation that will be disbursed to children who come under the welfare programme and others requiring assistance.
Minister Akbar said, “Displays of such generous acts that allows us to fulfil the needs of those who genuinely need our assistance”.
“While working in my role as the Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation for the last 16 months, I have come to the conclusion that in order for us to assist the underprivileged of our community in the best possible way is a collaborative effort with our corporate partners,” she said.
A few students together with their parents and guardians turned up to receive the assistance that will join the other forms of relief including tuition fee free education, free text books initiative and Free Milk Program for Year 1 students.
During the presentation, Minister Akbar emphasised the importance of education to uplifting the living standards as these children come from mainly impoverished backgrounds.
“The Fijian Government will continue to provide a holistic, inclusive and empowered education system in an effort to lift the standard of education to the next level.”
“Government’s level of commitment to ensure we have an “education nation” is reflected in the significant increase in the education budget for 2016,” Minister Akbar said.
She reminded the parents that their input was essential in terms of making the Government’s Education Framework a success.
Single parent, Sneh Gopal, mother of Year 11 student Shanal Gopal, thanked the ministry for the assistance and the Government as a whole.
“Without all the assistance they provide, the free education and the social welfare assistance I receive, I would not have been able to educate my son to this level. So yes, I am very grateful,” she said.
The bags together with stationeries will be distributed to needy children throughout the country.