The people of Navurevure Village in Naitasiri celebrated the fulfilment of a long-held dream when their primary school held its first prize-giving event.
The Fiji Times reported on December 1, 1994 that a committee comprising representatives from three mataqali, headed by Koroi Siganivalu, approached the Ministry of Education and were granted permission to establish a school.
“This week they celebrated the school’s first prize-giving, and the dream has almost come true,” Mr Siganivalu said.
“In a year they will be able to move their pupils from their temporary classroom into a permanent school.”
The school operated out of the village community hall. There were 59 pupils in the school. The 40 families involved paid $20 per household per week to pay for the construction of a new school building and staff quarters.
Navurevure Village is 52 kilometres from Nausori Town, taking almost two hours to get there by car.
Mr Siganivalu, the committee manager, said: “The villagers had a church, a community hall, a secondary school and their last dream was to have a primary school so their children wouldn’t have to swim across a river to other schools in the area.”
“This year we had to raise funds to buy chalk, blackboard, books and all other study essentials one can think of.”
“The ministry provided three teachers, and we are very thankful for their consideration.”
The village community hall had been divided into three sections, with two classes sitting in the same room but sharing different blackboards.
Classes 1 and 2 sat on the floor. Classes 3 and 4 had desks and sat side by side and were taught by the same teacher who wrote on two blackboards.
Classes 5 and 6 shared one room with a teacher attending to both.
The sitting arrangement and lack of facilities did not deter eight Class Six students from achieving top marks in the Intermediate Examination.
Lekima Tukairanadi was the hero of Tuesday’s celebration because he scored the highest mark in the Naitasiri District – 471 out of 500 in the Fiji Intermediate Examination.
Mr Siganivalu could not hold back his tears when he recalled how the students sat and studied, and the day Lekima proved that the new school was the top.
“We want our children to grow up with education so that they don’t suffer later in life.”
“As far as I can remember, since 1937, the children of Navurevure have been walking almost two miles to go to Wainawaqa District School.”
“They carry their change, cross the Waidina River, wear their uniform, and go to school. It was a real pity to see them wake up early in the morning and get dressed for the journey.”
“We have eight acres of land and have built two staff quarters, and the only hope we see is a grant by the ministry to build three classrooms.”
“After finishing Class Six at Navurevure Primary School, our children will go to Waidina Secondary School, which is a few metres away from the primary school.”
“To start this school, the only help we were given was by the Australian Government, which donated $2800. We bought a duplicating machine and a typewriter with this money.”
“Everyone in this village is a farmer, and it is very difficult for them to contribute more than $20.”
“Our dreams will be shattered if the Government does not provide funds for the school. We may have to continue from the community hall and wait for the money.”
