Signatories to a petition presented in parliament by the opposition recently regarding the conversion of Nadroga/Navosa High School to a technical institute want the petition withdrawn immediately.
Parents of the school who signed the petition today met with the Minister for Education Hon. Mahendra Reddy to clear the air on reasons for the petition but later apologised for their decision and said they supported the move by the government.
Parent and school committee member Siteri Toge in Rukurukulevu Village said the petition was a result of some miscommunication between the provincial council, parents and the school which the opposition took advantage of.
“I am one of the signatories but I signed because we thought it was too early and we were worried about the welfare of our children but I seek the forgiveness of the Government and fully support converting the school to a technical college,” she told Hon. Reddy.
Mrs Toge and others said they wanted to withdraw their signatures from the petition saying it was a mistake to have signed the petition in the first place.
“I and other parents also would like to withdraw our signatures from the petition and request Hon. Gavoka to withdraw the petition because we support the move by Government as it will be beneficial to us the parents and people of Nadroga/Navosa.”
Other parents who were present at the meeting with the Education Ministry said they were unaware that the chiefs of the vanua of Nakuruvarua had endorsed the change stating they were to hasty in making the decision and thanked Hon. Reddy in meeting them.
Mata – ni – tikina for the Cuvu district Tevita Makutu Volavola said the petition created a lot of confusion among parents and the vanua and was grateful that the education ministry met with the signatories to set the record straight as all processes were followed.
He made the comments to the Minister for Education Hon. Dr Mahendra Reddy in Sigatoka today to reiterate the province’s determination to open the Technical College.
“We have full confidence in Government and the direction taken by the Ministry of Education in establishing this technical college which we believe will be very beneficial to our students and the vanua as a whole,” Mr Volavola said.
“Nadroga/Navosa has also of students, dropouts and even youths and our province is tainted as a marijuana planting province. We are trying to change this as there are also a lot of opportunities available for employment for our students through such (Technical) colleges.”
The petition by Hon. Gavoka was presented on behalf of some disgruntled disagreeing to convert the high school to a Technical College which would provide students, youths and others to get some form of formal education.