MANY of the early Indian settlers in Fiji were quick to grasp the value of education as an empowerment tool, one that would provide the platform and pathway to a better and prosperous future.
In many rural sugarcane farming communities, these early settlers were the ones who pushed for the establishment of schools to educate their children.
As a result, schools built over a century ago are still standing in the country, and an example is Sabeto Central School in Nadi— one of the first schools established in the area. The institution has churned out over 8000 students throughout its 100-year existence.
Beginning Picturesque in its simplicity, Sabeto became home to many indentured labourers who started sugarcane farms and forged working relations with landowners.
As time passed, it became evident to these settlers that there was a need for proper education facilities for children.
It was in the 1900s that missionary the Rev C F Andrews founded the then Sabeto Indian School, known across the community today as Sabeto Central School.
Read the story of the beginning of this institution in today’s edition (Monday, August 20, 2018) of The Fiji Times and in our E-Edition.
