Bula Vinaka and a very good afternoon to you all.

I’m delighted to be here in the West this morning at the Nasivikoso Village School to open this new block of classrooms and teachers’ quarters and to have the opportunity to meet so many of you face-to-face.

My Government has always been willing to invest in the education of Fijian children and as I’ve said before, I am more proud of our free schooling program than anything else we have ever done. With the free schooling we introduced last year, every Fijian child now has an opportunity to reach for the stars, to fulfil their dreams through better access to learning.

But it’s also important for the community to play its part wherever it can and the fact that you have done so here has set a wonderful example to the rest of the country. I understand that community-organised fundraising raised $40,000, which is an incredible achievement.

I would also like to thank Rustic Pathways for its generous assistance. This organisation has worked hand in hand with Government to improve the lives of the children and families here, so a big Vinaka vakalevu to you all.

I also want to thank the teachers of the Nasivikoso Village School for the efforts they are making to improve the lives of our young people. Teachers are an integral part of the education system and we must ensure that their conditions of employment are conducive to them giving their best.

And, of course, thanks to the parents for their support and to the students for their enthusiasm and eagerness to take advantage of these new facilities.

I understand that before this school was built children from Nasivikoso Village had to attend Magodro District School in Bukuya, Ba and Natutale Primary School in Wauosi, Navosa – either facing long walks or the prospect of living away from home as boarding students.

This strikes on a very important point to me personally. At such a young age, it is not good for children to be away from their parents and families. My Government is doing everything it can to address this problem – not only in Nasivikoso – but across Fiji. Building more classrooms – especially for Years 1 to 3 – to prevent young children from having to live away from their parents is one of the chief priorities in our early childhood education reforms. That’s why I’m especially proud that these new facilities mean that many of the children in this community will no longer have to live apart from their mums and dads. As a father and grandfather myself, I understand what a huge relief this must be.

In 2012, the first 53 students, from Years 1 to 3, began classes here at the present school site. In 2013, the school expanded to 63 students from Years 1 to 5 - and to 69 in 2014. Now, with the new buildings provided by my office and Rustic Pathways, in 2015 the school will provide classes to 137 students, from Year 1 to Year 8.

Ladies and Gentlemen, as I look around here today, I’m especially proud to see the faces of the new Fiji – energetic, eager to learn, and looking towards the great future that awaits them as Fijians in the years ahead.

Boys and Girls, you have been given a fantastic opportunity to get on in life – the best opportunity that any Fijian child has ever been given in the history of our nation. For the first time, my Government has been able to provide you with free schooling, not only here in primary school but when you get older and go on to high school.

Not so long ago in Fiji, if you came from a poor family, you couldn’t go to school because your parents didn’t have the money to pay for your education. Can you imagine the heartbreak that caused for so many families? That their dreams for their children couldn’t be achieved? Can you imagine not being able to come to school, to not learn anything, to not have the opportunity to get on in life?

It was terribly sad. And when I became Prime Minister, I was determined to do something about it. To make sure that every child in Fiji finally got a level playing field and the chance to do their best. My Government now pays for your schooling. And if you want to go on to high school – which I want you all to do - or on to university or Technical College, we are also giving you the chance to do that.

If you happen to be in the top 600 students at the end of high school, we will give you a scholarship in chosen areas of study at tertiary level. But if you’re not in the top 600, we will still pay for your tertiary tuition fees which you pay back gradually when you get a job.

And as you will have heard, we are expanding this opportunity by providing free textbooks in our schools this year. So we are again reducing the cost to ordinary Fijian families of providing their children with the best possible chance to get on in life.

I once again ask every Fijian to be understanding and patient as we deliver the roll-out of this initiative. As with any major new initiative, there may be an odd delay or administrative error. But what it ultimately means is that any parent will only be responsible for paying for exercise books and uniforms.

Think for a moment how much things have changed for the family budget in terms of education in the past few years. Bus fares, tuition, text books. My Government has lifted that burden from your shoulders and we are doing everything we can to lift it further.

In return, all I ask is that you work as hard as you can on your studies here, work as hard as you can when you get to high school and take advantage of the chance we are giving you to go further – to become a doctor or a nurse, a farmer, carpenter, plumber, electrician or engineer. Or any number of other jobs that any country needs and that can provide a better living for you and your family.

So work hard at your studies and play hard on the sports field or your other activities. And above all, learn to enjoy learning new things and gaining extra knowledge.

That’s the way for you to become smarter and the way for our country to become smarter – everyone trying to learn as much as they can so we can eventually be seen by the rest of the world as a clever country.

We must identify every available opportunity and seize it, both as a nation and as individuals. That’s why the struggle to become a smarter nation doesn’t start somewhere else. It starts here with every young person at the Nasivikoso Village School and at every other school in the country.

Take care of these new facilities. Take care of each other. Be proud of your school. Be proud to be Fijian at a wonderful time in our history. And above all, work hard to achieve your dreams as the new school year starts in 2015.

I have great pleasure in declaring these new facilities open and wishing you all the very best in the months ahead.

Vinaka vakalevu. Thank you.