The Ministry of Education is working on the requirements for six pilot infant schools that will be established next year.
Ministry of Education permanent secretary Dr Brij Lal said the ministry officials had already visited areas where these schools would be established.
He said Government had approved the establishment of these schools to avoid boarding school at an early age for children between the ages of five to eight.
“One school will be established in Nadroga, one in Yasawa, one in Cakaudrove and two in Bua. Our officers have visited the sites and they have discussed with the communities. They have looked at the site and the proposed building,” Dr Lal said.
“Officers have visited nearby primary schools and looked at the number of students in boarding who will be converting to the infant schools and they have made an assessment of what is required in terms of the size of the classroom, number of teachers and all other logistics.”
Dr Lal said they were working on the budget for these schools now because they expect the costs to be around $40,000 t0 $50,000 per school.
“We’ll also work on preparing the buildings, either to work with communities on the community hall or to put up a new classroom and this should start from the beginning of next year,” he said.
“The ministry is looking at one classroom with a toilet block. It could also include furniture and other logistics.
“That does not include a teachers quarters. At the moment we will try and locate teachers from that locality so that they can stay at their own homes and work.”
The infant schools will be established in Vatubalavu Village in the district of Nadroga/Navosa, at Navotua Village in the district of Lautoka/Yasawa, Naulivou Village in the district of Cakaudrove, and in Kavula, Nakawaka and Cogea villages in Bua province.
The establishment of these infant schools will mean that all Classes One to Three students will be attending day schools.
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