Saakshi Goundar, 17, has become a firm believer of the 2013 Fijian Constitution after witnessing her mother pursue her dream to be a teacher.

The Year 13 student of Natabua High School was one of the six winners of 2021 Constitution Day competition which was announced on Tuesday.

She won $500, an early gift for her 18th birthday on September 21.

In her video presentation Saakshi highlighted how Section 31 of the 2013 Constitution enhanced Fiji’s education-based society.

The Drasa, Lautoka, lass believes that education is an investment for the future of any country.

“Through education our underprivileged members of society can break out of the poverty circle,” she said.

“Access to free education in Fiji has been possible because of this dynamic supreme law of Fiji.”

Mother’s journey

She revealed that after 14 years of marriage her mother, Ashika Reddy, finally got the opportunity to continue her tertiary education. This was through the Tertiary Education Loans Scheme.

“After her marriage in 2001 the educational journey of my mother seemed to have ended as the responsibility of managing household chores was on her shoulders,” Saakshi said.

“She had to look after my sickly grandparents along with raising me and my younger brother. She made sure her responsibilities as a daughter-in-law and mother were not compromised.

“Today because of the 2013 Constitution she has progressed in her tertiary education up to post graduate diploma level and is employed full-time as a high school teacher.

“Her remarkable achievement is a testimony that anyone can attain proper education at any given age under the 2013 Constitution,” she said.

She also emphasised that many Fijian students would have dropped out of school during this current COVID-19 pandemic if government’s free education policy were not in place.

“Hundreds of families have been severely affected by the pandemic but the educational journey of their children thankfully continues,” she said.

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