One-hundred-and-twenty-three students have been counselled so far this year for violent behaviour, using drugs in school, sex-related offences, mental health issues and other negative behaviour arising from social media use.
Education Minister Aseri Radrodro said this as he commissioned Fiji’s first Student Support Services Hub at Natabua High School in Lautoka on Friday.
The 123 were given counselling assistance by the Substance Abuse Advisory Council under the Education Ministry.
The Australian Government financed and provided technical support to establish the hub.
“The support service hub as such will allow students to freely and confidently share their problems without being judged or criticised,” Mr Radrodro said.
He said mental health awareness for students was crucial to ensure they were better able to learn and be more inclined to make the most of their abilities.
The Student Support Services Hub is a partnership pilot project of the Australian Government through Fiji’s Support to Fiji’s Education Sector and the Fiji Government through the Ministry of Education.
There are plans to have hubs set up in the Northern, Central and Eastern divisions.
Teenagers have been appearing in court for a range of sexual and non-sexual serious crimes in recent years.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, of the 24 people charged with sex offences in March this year, two were juveniles.
A 13-year-old boy was charged with the rape of his 6-year-old nephew while in another incident, a 17-year-old boy was charged with the rape of his 9-year-old niece.
The ODPP also said of the 58 people charged with serious (non-sexual) crimes last month, 10 juveniles were charged with aggravated robbery, burglary, aggravated burglary and theft offences.
In February, a 14-year-old boy was charged with the rape and sexual assault of his 4-year-old cousin while in another incident, a 13-year-old boy was charged with the rape and sexual assault of his 9-year-old niece, and a 16-year-old boy was charged with the rape of a 13-year-old girl.
There was one incident where two 16-year-old boys and a 17-year-old boy were charged with the rape of a 16-year-old girl. The accused persons allegedly locked the victim in a school toilet and raped her.
Just last week, Home Affairs Minister Pio Tikoduadua called on all stakeholders to work together to address the violence issue pervading the Capital City in the past few weeks.
He said the issue could only be addressed if parents, guardians, faith-based organisations and civil society organisations worked together with police.
