Labasa sisters claim top honours in Urdu competition

For the first time, two siblings from Labasa Muslim Primary School have won the primary division nazam and Urdu oratory competitions organised by the Macuata Muslim League Fiji and the Northern Urdu Workgroup.

Year Six student Julfa Noor won the nazam competition, while her sister, Azka Noor, a Year Eight student, claimed the oratory title.

The one-day event was held recently at Labasa Muslim College.

The sisters, who were born in Delhi, India, thanked their father, Mohammed Imran Khan, the imam of Naseakula Mosque, and teacher Zahid Afwaz Ali for preparing them for the competition.

"We moved to Labasa with our parents 10 years ago because our father had been appointed to serve at the mosque," Julfa said.

"As children, we have always been taught to be disciplined. I believe that discipline and our passion for learning have helped us achieve these awards."

Azka said her speech focused on cleanliness, which she described as a reflection of one's commitment to faith and an important principle of Islam.

"When we choose to respect God, cleanliness becomes a daily practice. When this becomes part of our faith, we become more conscious of our actions and pollution will not be such a major issue in our country," she said.

In the secondary division, Ubaidullah Ahmed, a Year 10 student of Valebasoga Secondary School in Labasa, won the nazam competition.

Shadia Bi, a Year 13 student of Seaqaqa Central College, won the Urdu oratory competition.

Macuata Muslim League Fiji education board chairperson Mohammed Nazim said 14 schools from across the Northern Division took part in the primary and secondary competitions.

"Since 1978, we have organised this competition to encourage students to speak Urdu and develop their public speaking skills," Mr Nazim said.

"We thank the Ministry of Education for allowing Urdu to be taught in schools so our children can maintain their mother tongue."

He also thanked organisers for ensuring students from rural schools were included in the competition.