In September 1998, 184 students of Bukama Village School in the Yasawa Group faced challenges that made going to school an achievement in itself.
For many, the journey meant walking up to 18 kilometres a day, with some arriving at school around teatime.
The Fiji Times reported on September 2 that year that during the dry season, water shortages were so severe that classes had to be suspended, with only a borehole providing water that was unsafe to drink.
The school had also been destroyed by a cyclone the previous year, with overseas assistance providing new classrooms and teachers’ quarters. Yet, despite the hardships, the school’s academic performance was improving.
Under head teacher Eminoni Taka, Bukama became the highest-achieving school in the Yasawa Group in the Intermediate and Secondary Entrance Examinations.
Mr Taka recalled accommodating students in his quarters before examinations so teachers could supervise and discipline them, while the school committee helped provide food.
Then came an adventure many of the students had never experienced — a trip to Suva.
It was their first visit to the Capital. The school funded the trip, with a tourist excursion helping raise money for the journey.
The students travelled by boat to Lautoka — a three-hour trip — before making their way to Suva. They spent a memorable week camping at Veiuto Primary School.
For the children of Bukama, it was more than a school trip. It was a rare opportunity to see the city, experience something beyond their island home and return with memories that would last a lifetime.
