Education Starts With Parents and Students, Four Schools Told

The foundation of good educa­tion is built on an effective partnership between parents and students, four schools have been told.

Guest of honour Sovaia Delaiba­tiki Yacakuru made the remarks at a ceremony to honour Year Seven student Amete Baselala Bonavei­dogo at her school, Nukui District School, in Rewa yesterday.

Amete was the top Year Six stu­dent last year for four schools, Nukui District School, Vutia Dis­trict School, Rewa District and Nailili’s St Joseph the Worker Pri­mary School.

She is the first recipient of the De­laibatiki Shield and a modest cash gift, donated by the Delaibatiki family to promote education in the Waitui Zone which comprises the four Rewa schools.

The Delaibatikis’ are from Mua­naira Village, Vutia, Rewa. Mrs Yacakuru, one of the 11 Delaiba­tiki children said her family valued education.

“The home is the first classroom. The parents are the first teachers. Education is a partnership between the students and the parents. The teachers complement that partner­ship. We have been able to meet our goals, university degrees, qualifica­tion and jobs on the basis of this model,” Mrs Yacakuru said.

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She encouraged students to study and work hard, listen and obey their teachers and parents. She said students could be what they wanted to be if they worked hard for it.

Education, she said, was the key to success. It would take them to the four corners of the globe.

“Two of my sisters are doing that now. One is a medical Consultant in Radiation and oncology. The other, with a PhD in public health is a lec­turer at a New Zealand university,” she said

“My mother used to say - Educa­tion is knowledge, knowledge is power, and power is money.

“She was our greatest inspiration. When I was in Year 10, she went back to school. She had earlier in her younger days only reached form four. But through faith, hard work and perseverance, she passed her midwifery degree in New Zea­land. She used to wake up at 4am to make lunch packs for us, ensure that we have everything we need at school, that we do our homework and study. Time was of essence in our big family. There was very little idle or unproductive time.”

She said students must pick friends with positive influence and use their time wisely.

She said parents should spend quality time with students at home and help them with their studies.

Edited by Mohammed Zulfikar

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