Thank you all for your service to the Ministry and to the nation.

This was a statement by the Education Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Anjeela Jokhan, while officiating the awards ceremony for retiring teachers at Natabua High School in Lautoka on Thursday.

The day was to farewell 45 teachers of the Western Division who had completed their service in 2020.

They had served an average of about 23 years in the sector.

The awards ceremony for the Eastern Division has been completed whereas for the Northern Division is planned to happen next week in Labasa. About 144 teachers had completed their service to the Ministry.

“I have always believed that teaching is a noble profession, it may not always seem like that these days, but it is and as parents, communities and a nation we must recognise this,” said Ms Jokhan.

Among the 45 retirees was 55-year-old, Maheshwari Sundar.

She said being an Indo-Fijian teacher and attending to all iTaukei students was a challenge.

Teaching all iTaukei students was a blessing to her as it allowed her to learn a little of the language and associate herself with the different families.

She was the director of the Early Childhood Public Education Centre in Lautoka.

Ms Sundar has been teaching for 37 years.

She said teaching was an exciting career she never regretted doing.

“My journey being a teacher was an exciting one and I am grateful for the challenges that were brought before me,” she said.

“Having to teach all iTaukei students was a challenge but being with the children each day was always a joyous moment.”

Ms Sundar said she was thankful for the support she received from her husband, Sham Sundar and family members.

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