Students and teachers returned to school this week for the 2024 academic year.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education, Viliame Gavoka said the Education Ministry was pleased to welcome back students, teachers and staff to a safe and enriching learning environment for another academic year.
The Ministry highlighted in a statement that divisional and district education offices had been working closely with the Heads of Schools to ensure that school premises were safe, clean and free of hazards when school re-opened.
Mr Gavoka reminded parents that all school stationery including uniforms, boarding items, kits and school footwear were to be ready as students attended their first day at school.
“The Coalition Government’s Back to School $200 assistance would have eased the financial constraints on eligible families and this is a confirmation to our commitment in promoting SDG 4 for equal access to holistic and quality education to the children of Fiji,” he said.
The Ministry emphasised the pivotal role that teachers play in the holistic development of every child in their care.
The Ministry stated that it is critical to welcome, counsel, and prepare students with compassion and love on the importance of education, moral values, civic responsibilities, and career paths as they embarked on another school year.
The Ministry extended its heartfelt gratitude to all teachers, students, parents, and community members for their resilience and adaptability.
The Fiji Police Force took time to thank members of the public for their patience as back to school traffic operations were underway in the country.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations (ACP) Livai Driu said while there were some issues that needed to be improved upon as far as coordination was concerned, overall, members of the public were to be commended for their patience and understanding.
ACP Driu said police officers were deployed early in the morning for traffic and school patrol duties ensuring children and teachers were being assisted in crossing duties, as well as school visitations.
ACP Driu said traffic teams tried their best to control the flow of traffic and that traffic teams were working to improve their peak traffic period operations.
