Naivicula Kindergarten in Naivicula, Tailevu, on Friday praised the Attorney-General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, for attending the close of their pre-school week celebration.

Teacher Mereseini Tabutaca said they appreciated that the A-G took time out from his busy schedule to visit a rural school like them.

The school roll is 23.

Mrs Tabutaca said Mr Sayed-Khaiyum’s presence showed the Government was serious  about its commitment to promote pre-school. She said they were working hard to ensure that the investment in pre-school would pay off.

“We hope to one day produce the best and number one pre-school and educated centre in the future and hope that the Fijian Government will help make this dream come true,” she said.

Mrs Tabutaca said the first time she came to teach in Naivicula, there was no kindergarten classroom.

She then requested the primary school to use a tool room for a pre-school classroom.

Tropical Cyclone Winston damaged the school building including their classroom.

But it failed to dampen their spirit and classes continued.

In April, the children moved to their new classroom funded by the Fijian Government and furnished by a Naivicula donor and the village committee.

Mrs Tabutaca requested the A-G for help to build a fence around the kindergarten and proper washroom facility and outdoor playing area.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said under the FijiFirst Government they had placed a lot of emphasis on education.

He said in Fiji today there should not be any child not attending school from Early Childhood Education (ECE) to year 13.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said Government allocated $920 million for education for this year’s Budget and some people asked why the Government put so much money in education.