Student urges cultural curriculum to preserve iTaukei traditions

Fiji's traditional cultural protocols could disappear if young people are not taught more about their heritage, a Ra student told the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) consultation in Rakiraki today.

Nakauvadra High School Year 12 student Wata Tarai said Fiji needed a dedicated school curriculum focused on traditional protocols and culture, as many students today had limited knowledge of their customs, traditions and cultural practices.

“Many teenage boys nowadays do not know how to present an isevusevu, a tabua and other traditional items,” Ms Tarai said.

“They need to be taught these practices. If parents cannot teach them at home, then schools should.”

Ms Tarai said culture was a vital part of a person's identity and should be protected for future generations.

“We need to include that in the Constitution — a special curriculum for iTaukei traditional protocols,” she said.

She proposed that cultural education be strengthened in schools and recognised in the Constitution to help preserve traditions that are gradually fading.

“Some of our cultural practices are no longer being seen or practised as much as before,” she said.

Ms Tarai said a stronger focus on cultural learning would help young people better understand their roots, respect their traditions and keep valuable cultural knowledge alive.