Minister for Education, Heritage, and Arts, Premila Kumar, commissioned new classrooms and a girls’ dormitory at the Vunisea Secondary School in Kadavu yesterday (23/03/22).
She was joined by the Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Fiji, His Excellency, KAWAKAMI Fumihiro.
The project was funded by the Japanese Government at a cost of $589,791 and rehabilitated damage caused by TC Harold in 2019, which severely damaged Vunisea Secondary School.
The school received:
1 ironing table
2 new concrete classrooms
2 teachers' office table
6 long tables and benches
6 mirror sets with frames
8 bookshelves
20 bunk beds with mattresses
40 desks and chairs
New girls’ concrete dormitory
Teachers’ table and chairs
Minister Kumar commended the Government of Japan and acknowledged their continuous support to the Fijian education sector.
“The Government of Japan has always been a true friend of Fiji and responded whenever Fiji was in need. Since 2016, the Government of Japan has assisted 37 schools to improve the facilities and resources worth around $15.5 million.”
The Minister also highlighted that since TC Winston in 2016, the Fijian Government has invested over $240M in rebuilding and repairing schools damaged by cyclones around the country.
She further stated that a lot has changed in the education sector for the better, as in the past, the community had to raise funds on their own to build and repair schools.
Minister Kumar encouraged the Head of School, Management, students, and teachers to take proper care of the school buildings so that future students can enjoy the facilities too, as the buildings are great assets to the community.