‘Take Education Seriously’
Hari Lal has called on parents and guardians to ensure their children do not miss out on school.
Mr Lal never had the opportunity to get a proper education.
He said the children of Fiji today were fortunate because Government has made education accessible and affordable for them.
The crab and prawn seller at Wailevu, Labasa, said he had never been to school and doesn’t know how to read and write English and Hindi.
“I am originally from Solove, Seaqaqa, Macuata province and one of nine siblings,” Mr Lal said.
“My father was a sugarcane and rice farmer and only two people in our family had the chance to get education.”
Being the third youngest in their family, Mr Lal got married early and then got employed as a plaster man at Jaduram Industries Limited in Labasa.
“When I realised the value of education I worked hard to educate my four children. Now they are all married and have settled down,” the 60-year-old grandfather of six children said.
For the past four years he has started selling crabs for $25 one kilogram and prawns at $35 for a kilogram.
“Whenever there is dry season I am able to make lot of money,” Mr Lal said.
“With the recent weather condition there is less supply of crabs and prawns from my suppliers in Bua and I only manage to make a profit of $50.
“However, my wife and I manage daily expenses and grateful to God for keeping me in good health so that I use my hands and legs to work to earn money.
“If only I had received education when I was young I would have been in a better position to earn more income for my family.”
Mr Lal said today’s young generation should be thankful to the Government and make use of all the available assistance to get education because education was life.
Edited by Susana Tuilau
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