Attorney-General and Minister for Education Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has paid tribute to faith based and community based organisations for their contributions to Fiji’s education sector.

He said throughout Fiji most schools were founded by such organisations.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said these organisations were the backbone of Fiji’s education system because without them the Government would have struggled to build up the sector right from independence.

He made the comments while officiating at the ground-breaking ceremony of a new building at the Nasinu Sangam School at Sangam Road, Narere, Nasinu, yesterday.

The three-storey building, includes 16 classrooms and three halls, will accommodate up to 3600 people.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum commended the teachers and parents of the school for their hard work.

He commended the contribution of the Then India Sanmarga Ikya (TISI) Sangam to Fiji’s education sector.

TISI Sangam President and founder of the school Sadasiwan Naicker said construction work would start in two weeks and was expected to be completed early next year. 

Mr Naicker said at least eight classrooms would be opened by January 2019.

“We are doing this for the Nasinu community and, while we are still alive, we need to do something,” he said.

The school has 967 students, including 110 kindergarten students. 

At the moment, one classroom has about 50 students. After the completion of the building, the school aims to reduce the numbers to at least 35 students per class.

A parent, Laisa Vulifalewai, said with the new building the students will have a healthy learning environment.

“We are very happy with the new school project. Now there is no need to send our children to other schools because there will be more than enough space here,” she said.

Nasinu Sangam School was founded in 1991.

Edited by Epineri Vula

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