Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Veena Bhatnagar said it was important for people to be educated.

“Though not listed as one of the three basic human needs, education is equally important for the progress of a nation and for the enrichment of society in general,” Ms Bhatnagar said.

“A country’s literate population is its asset.”

Ms Bhatnagar was speaking to about 1000 people on Thursday night during the Indian Cultural Night at the Miss Seaqaqa Carnival at the Seaqaqa Primary School in Macuata.

Ms Bhatnagar said she was encouraged to see five primary school students who were vying for the Miss Seaqaqa Charity queen title.

“As a Parliamentary leader of Fiji, my most valued take on education is that it lays the foundation of a stronger nation,” Ms Bhatnagar said.

“We in Fiji are lucky that the Fijian Government treats education as an outmost priority alongside its other development goals.

“Which has led to the development of many Government aided educational programmes and Government grants to schools and colleges.

“The motive behind this is fostering education in society.”

Seaqaqa Carnival committee president Lakhan Kumar said the purpose of the carnival was to raise funds about $50,000 to build a preschool accommodating 60 students.

“This year we began with a preschool education having a student roll of 33 studying under a temporary shelter,” Mr Kumar said.

“To complement the Ministry of Education’s funding, we decided to have this carnival so that we can have the preschool ready before 2017.

“The major sponsors are Seaqaqa Shopping Centre Limited, Auto Hardware Limited, Anaya Construction and Jotiram and Sons.”

Edited by Rusiate Mataika

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