The Ministry of Education is adamant that renovation works for the Ratu Kadavulevu School dormitory will be completed before school resumes this year.

Permanent Secretary for Education Alison Burchell said the ministry was working closely with the school’s administration on its enrollment process to avoid overcrowding in the dormitories.

Ms Burchell said the renovation was briefly interrupted by Tropical Cyclone Sarai, but they hoped to complete the work by the 10th of this month.

“We are working with the head of school and its staff to ensure that upgrades are done and students to be accommodated on their return for this school year,” Ms Burchell said.

She has referred all questions on the timeframe of the reconstruction of the burnt Degei House to the Ministry of Economy.

Degei House dormitory that was damaged by fire on October 26, 2019. Photo: Kelera Sovasiga

“Discussions have been ongoing by both ministries. We do not have the funding in our budget because it was an unplanned and unfortunate incident,” she said.

This week, the Minister for Education Rosy Akbar, will visit the school to see the progress of the renovation work. The Degei House dormitory housed about 160 students, some of whom were preparing for their final examinations, when it caught fire in October last year.

Ratu Kadavulevu School on January 4, 2020. Photo: Kelera Sovasiga

Edited by Ivamere Nataro

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