‘Education is the super power that lead us out of darkness into light and liberate us from poverty and suppression.’

School Management Association of Fiji president Govind Singh made the comment as he paid tribute to pioneering school founders, school managements, faith-based organisations and independent committees that have passionately built and looked after the country’s early childhood, primary and secondary schools.

In his Diwali message, Mr Singh said building pathways to educate the nation was the fundamental and the deepest spiritual and societal message of this festival of light.

He says quality education has the power to transform students out of ignorance to a knowledge-based successful thriving families and multicultural  communities.

“The diwali light symbolises removal of darkness from our mind, from our heart, from our deeds,” Mr Singh said.

He said that was the mission and vision of all school managers – that the infrastructure and invaluable partnerships built over a century supported hundreds of thousands of children and their parents, and tens of thousands of teachers.

He added collaboration with government should ensure every school was the source of light to educate every child holistically.

“… That this education will transform this nation into a peaceful successful thriving democracy of multilingual, multicultural, multiracial Fiji, whereby, humanity stands above all values and beliefs.

“I thank all stakeholders engaged with school managements to make sure that tomorrow will be better than today, and that our children will cherish the heritage and legacies left behind by our education.”