Republic of Fiji Military Forces engineers were directed to assist in the constructional rehabilitation of village schools on Vanuabalavu Island in Lau, damaged by Cyclone Tomas.
At Mualevu Village, school manager Temo Sukanaivalu requested the Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama to assist schools with visible scars left behind by Tomas.
Some school repairs though have been carried out through the European Union fund.
“School rooms were badly devastated and then fortunately EU came in and did some repairs,” Mr Sukanaivalu said.
“The EU donated a new dining room for students but we have a building that badly needs repairs. I was talking to the PM and the response has been good and already we see the RFMF engineers taking measurements and making estimations of repairs.
“I see the PM is being very practical – he called people to do this and that and already we are relieved that school building conditions will improve.
“The challenge in Lau is to have improved school facilities and we hope things will change.”
Mualevu Village School has a roll of 118 students from four villages namely Mualevu, Boitaci, Malaka and Muamua.
Commodore Bainimarama made an unscheduled visit to Mavana Village School after hearing the poor condition of some of the school buildings, one reduced to rubble, another missing a roof and some its walls.
RFMF engineers, headed by unit leader Lieutenant Semi Mocelutu were told by the Prime Minister to work with villagers in the reconstruction of school buildings.
Commodore Bainimarama emphasised to villagers of Mualevu district at a talanoa session at Mualevu village that education is a priority as the future wealth of the nation rested in the good education provided to children of this age.
Mr Sukanaivalu noted that the challenge in Lau is the need to revamp mindset towards the education of children.
“The mindsets of villagers have got to change and they have got to make education a priority – we do have fundraising over here and they just don’t seem to care,” Mr Sukanaivalu said.
“If it were than they would be helping in repairs to the school buildings and fundraising for maintenance programs and so forth.”