The Ministry of Education may consider including into the school curriculum the art of making traditional garlands, now seen as a fast buying commodity.
With the increasing demand for garlands, Education Minister Viliame Gavoka said in Parliament today that he was so impressed to see almost all graduates of the University of the South Pacific and Fiji National University wear garlands at the ceremony.
This matter was widely discussed in Parliament with the Speaker Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu sharing his experience of seeing many on Taveuni who make garlands from Tagimoucia flowers to send to Viti Levu.
“Some people are using parts of the banana trees and people are becoming creative with the way they make garlands,” he said.
For the school program, Mr Gavoka said each garland cost around $60 a piece and this was a of money if families were depending on this for income and could become an industry on its own.
“There is such a high demand and so we’re hoping to have it as part of craft to teach students.
“I understand it comes from a bark but it’s a craft that we teach around the country and not only in Fiji but those living overseas as well order for these traditional garlands.”
Mr Gavoka said he would ask his team at the Ministry of Education about this issue and to have it included in the curriculum.
“Il’l ask the team to teach this to students in schools because it has high economic value and includes a lot of raw materials,” he said.
“However, some have used barks of mangroves and we won’t encourage that because we need the mangroves.”
