Scouts Enjoy Holistic Growth To Be Better Citizens
Scouts Enjoy Holistic Growth To Be Better Citizens
More than 1500 young scouts from all over Fiji were reminded to practise good values and behaviour to become better citizens of the country.
These are lessons one learned while developing to be a fully fledged scout.
These valuable instructions for life were shared by the Attorney-General and Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts Aiyaz Sayed- Khaiyum at Vunimoli Primary School in Labasa on Monday night.
The school is hosting students from 25 districts around the country for the National Scouts Jamboree, which was opened by Mr Sayed-Khaiyum.
He said jamborees were wonderful opportunities for all scouts and leaders to come together and participate in activities, learn new skills and make new friends.
He also reminded scouts and teachers that children play an important role in developing Fiji.
“The scouts movement is very much part and parcel of my ministry’s youth empowerment and development agenda because the scouts organisation is an integral partner that helps its members build character and leadership,” the Minister for Education said.
“Its self-education programme encourages individuals to be actively involved in and be responsible for their own development as a self-reliant, supportive, responsible and committed person.
“I would like to acknowledge the contribution of all scouts and other stakeholders, especially those citizens who have played an important part in fostering the scout movement over the years. By your active support you have made scouting an exciting and a worthwhile pursuit.
“Through the scouts programme at our school, we teach children how to be independent when they are without their parents and also support and guide them for their future.
“Through this programme students are taught life skills, which are part of the education system now.
“It is a great privilege for students because they are instilled with good values and good behaviour and moulded to be better citizens of this country,” he said.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum reiterated that $400,000 was allocated to the Fiji Scouting Association in the 2018-2019 Budget.
“The Ministry of Education has supported scouting in Fiji through promoting it in schools around the country,” he said.
“The scout journey has been possible through the remarkable voluntary efforts of many ordinary citizens who so generously gave their valuable time to help manage, administer and lead at all levels of this organisation.
“Scouting encourages the holistic physical, mental, spiritual and social development of youth with a strong emphasis on duty to country and helping each other.
“These values and practices have moulded scouts to contribute to world peace and racial harmony, and build positive interpersonal relationships,” he said.
School manager Mohammed Naeem said they were proud to be hosting the jamboree camp in the North after 27 years.
Mr Dutt said they were expecting to host 25 scouting districts during the camp, which was close to 500 schools.
He said even though the venue of the camp was at Vunimoli Primary School, other activities would be decentralised to sites around schools in Labasa.
“There have been no confirmations from our national headquarters but we expect scouting schools from Australia and New Zealand,” Mt Dutt said.
“This is the second time that the North is hosting the camp because the last time the camp was held in Bulavou District School in Seaqaqa.
“Students will be occupied with water activities, hiking and other basic activities and we will have presentations and sessions with the Royal Fiji Military Forces, Japanese International Corporation Aid and Messengers of Peace,” he added.
The jamboree will end on Thursday.
Edited by Percy Kean
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