New $2.1million School Wing Now Open
Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama opened the $2.1million new Sigatoka Methodist College wing at Kulukulu, Sigatoka yesterday.
The new United Arab Emirates (UAE) wing would cater for two streams of Year 12 and two streams of Year 13 students.
The college currently catered for students from Year Nine to Year 13 in the Laselase Wing and Year 11 to Year 13 students in the Nayawa Wing in Sigatoka.
The new UAE wing would be open for classes to students in Term Two commencing next month.
The new wing was equipped with an industrial arts workshop, a computer lab, a science lab and a home economics lab.
The project was through the joint effort of the Fijian Government, the Methodist Church of Fiji and the Emirates Red Crescent.
Mr Bainimarama said the new wing was part of an effort to relocate the school due its vulnerability to flooding and lack of room for expansion.
He said the students of Nadroga could now look forward to enjoying the safe, secure education they deserved without having to worry about rising water levels when it rained.
“We have always said that every Fijian student must have access to an equally high standard of learning no matter where they live whether in the city or in a rural maritime community,” said Mr Bainimarama.
“These are world class facilities that enable every student to go to their fullest potential preparing them to be valuable Fijian and global citizens.”
He said it was wonderful to see students back in class.
He said the students experienced an event that their parents and grandparents never had, that was the global pandemic.
He said the pandemic kept students at home away from their teachers, away from a normal learning environment and away from friends.
“Fiji simply wasn’t Fiji without our schools opened and filled with students who are busy with the business of learning.
“The education of Fijians of all ages in all parts of the country has always been my Government’s greatest priority.”
He encouraged students to always prioritise education.
Mr Bainimarama acknowledged the commitment and sacrifice put in by the teachers and parents to keep the children learning.
College principal, Timaima Katonivualiku said the opening of the new wing was the school’s greatest achievement.
“We established our school farm to assist the school in building our school fence due to its proximity to the roadside,” said Ms Katonivualiku.
She said they would increase their harvest in another four weeks and seek financial assistance for further development of the school playground.
Emirates Red Crescent Deputy Secretary General, Hamoud Aljneibi said the project reflected the UAE’s needs to support Fiji’s efforts especially in the education sector.
“The UAE Red Crescent’s initiatives are through the Emirates Red Crescent efforts to invest in human beings, achieve their aspirations and achieve their dignity,” he said.
The Red Crescent Society of the United Arab Emirates is the United Arab Emirates affiliate of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The authority was founded in Abu Dhabi in 1983 with support of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
There are 765 students in the college.
Feedback: nicolette.chambers@fijisun.com.fj
