Minister for Education Officiated at the Virtual Celebration for Fiji Scouts Association’s World Founder’s Day.
The Minister for Education, Heritage & Arts, Premila Kumar, officiated at the first ever virtual celebration of World Scouts Founder’s Day. This was organised by the Fiji Scouts Association (FSA) for boys and girls scouts, scout leaders, heads of schools, and teachers to participate virtually through Zoom and the live session through the official FSA social media page.
World Scouts Founder’s Day marks the remembrance of the founder of scouting, Lord Baden Powell and is celebrated worldwide on 22nd of February each year.
Whilst addressing the participants, the Minister stated that since our students are back to school after almost nine months, it is important to re-engage them in such important events as those undertaken during the pre-COVID-19 period. This will stimulate excitement amongst the children and help in their development.
Minister Kumar added that not only has the pandemic affected us, but there are also many other influences which have become a part of today’s societal problems. For example, social media apart from its positive influence, has also become a huge negative influencer as well as a spreader of misinformation.
As such, the Minister highlighted that this year’s theme to mark the World Scouts Founder’s Day: “Adapting to a Changing World”, was very apt. This is because scouting has, to a large extent, provided our young people the opportunity to adapt to the changing world, full of its challenges and temptations.
The Education Minister emphasised that scouts in Fiji has been very important in the lives of thousands of Fijian youth as well as our teachers.
“It has not only played a pivotal role in building confidence and self-worth of our young people but has also helped instill important moral values which has shaped the character of each scout member, defining them as an individual”, said Minister Kumar.
The Ministry strongly believes that we need to produce citizens who are critical thinkers, patriotic, sharp with life skills and have compassion for others and this all can be offered through scouting.
“It is my hope that we can continue to strengthen the partnership between the Ministry and Fiji Scouts Association and invest in our youngsters’ holistic development today, tomorrow and in the future as well”, alluded Minister Kumar.
The Minister has also accepted the request by FSA to meet and discuss the way forward for scouting in Fiji and how it can be used to develop better citizens of Fiji.