Proud dad said he did not want son to miss out on education, like he did

The Dux of Korovuto College in Nadi, Ravnish Rasheel Kumar, said putting a big smile on his parents was the best achievement he could give them.

The 18-year-old took was named Dux of the year on Wednesday during the Korovuto College prizegiving.

“I am happy to achieve this and to give my mum and dad smiles on their faces,” he said.

“They work hard for us everyday no matter what work they. I just cannot repay them now, but in the long run I will one day, through education.”

The Year 13 student is the son of a displaced sugarcane farmer from Ba who have settled at their new home in Naidovi, Nadi, since 2000.

His father, Ravind Kumar, 46, has been the College gardener for the past six years while the mother, Swastika Devi, works as sales girl at Paddy’s store in Nadi Town.

Mr Ravind grew up not having his father around during his schools days since his death. This led to him dropping out in Year 9 at DAV College in Ba then.

“I lost my dad then and missed out, so this time I don’t want my son to miss out because education will only set us free in this age where technology takes first seat,” Mr Ravind said.

His son Ravnish strongly believes in what the former South African President, the late Nelson Mandela, once said: “Education is the great engine of personal development”.

He also lamented on what the late Mandela once said: “It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that a son of a mineworker can become the head of the mine that a child of farm workers can become the president of a great nation”.

Ravnish wants to become an aircraft engineer and will join the Fiji National University next year.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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