Our 90/40 Anniversary is a special moment for the Chinese Education Society and the entire school community. It gives us a chance to come together, look back with gratitude and look forward with hope. Our theme, “Honouring our past, inspiring our future,” captures exactly what this occasion means. We are celebrating not only the years that have passed, but the people, values and aspirations that have carried our school from one generation to the next.
It is humbling to think how simply our school began.
On June 15, 1936, 13 members of Fiji’s Chinese community opened the Fiji Chinese School in Suva with just 17 pupils. The founders did not have the certainty of knowing what their school would become, but they had a belief that education could open doors for their children. They wanted young people to be able to participate confidently in the wider community while remaining connected to their language, heritage and culture. With that determination, they raised funds to establish the school and set in motion a journey that continues today.
How the school grew
From those first 17 pupils, the school grew. By the early 1950s, enrolment reached 124 and the school had moved to Flagstaff. In 1976, it was renamed Yat Sen in honour of Dr Sun Yat-sen, whose 160th birth anniversary is also being marked this year. That same year, the school opened its doors to children of all races.
Ten years later, the secondary school was established. Today, Yat Sen Schools is home to more than 1,000 students across kindergarten, primary and secondary.
That growth is something we can all be proud of — not only because of the numbers, but because they represent generations of families placing their trust in this school community.
For us, a school is more than its classrooms, curriculum or buildings. It is the child arriving at kindergarten for the first time, a parent waiting after school, a teacher who stays back to encourage a student, a staff member who quietly makes each day run smoothly, an alumnus who returns with a story to share, and friends who support the school year after year. Yat Sen has always been built by people who care. That spirit is the legacy we inherit, and one we must protect.
Yat Sen’s story is also Fiji’s story. It began with the resolve of Fiji’s Chinese community to build opportunities for their children. It has grown into a multicultural school community where families of different backgrounds learn together and contribute to Fiji’s future. In this way, the school reflects qualities we see in Fiji: resilience, generosity of spirit, respect for heritage and the belief that diversity can be a source of strength.
Across our country, churches and cultural communities have founded, supported and sustained schools because they recognise the importance of education. In that sense, this milestone does not belong only to us.
The celebrations
Our anniversary celebrations offer friends the opportunity to share memories and reconnect.
The Culture Show gives our students a platform to celebrate the richness of our multicultural community through music, performance, storytelling and creativity. The Gala evening recognises those who continue to make lasting contributions to the school. Each occasion has its own character, but they share one purpose: to bring people together.
We look forward to welcoming parents, staff, students, former students and friends of the school. We are especially touched by the strong response from alumni in Fiji and overseas. Their continuing connection reminds us that leaving school does not mean leaving behind its heritage and values. The lessons, friendships and sense of belonging formed here travel with them as they build their own lives and contribute to communities around the world.
The anniversary is also about our current students. When children step onto a stage, work with classmates, help with an event or simply see their family standing beside them, they learn something important: they are part of a community that believes in them. These experiences can help a child find confidence, encourage them to try something new or give students a deeper appreciation of the cultures and people around them. What matters is that each student knows there is a place for them in the celebrations and in our school life.
Looking ahead
Looking ahead, we must continue creating opportunities for young people to learn, grow and become thoughtful, capable citizens. Academic achievement will always matter, but so will character, kindness, resilience, leadership and the ability to work across cultures. The world our students will enter is changing quickly. Our task is to give them strong roots and the confidence to meet the future with an open mind.
On behalf of the Chinese Education Society, I thank everyone who has helped shape this remarkable journey: the pioneers who began it, the teachers who strengthen it, the families, PTFA and organisations that support it, the members of the Alumni Association who are spearheading this celebration, and the students who give it life every day. I warmly invite our community to join us as we celebrate 90 years of primary and 40 years of secondary education. Let us honour the courage that began with 17 pupils, celebrate the more than 1,000 students who now call Yat Sen home, and continue to shape a future worthy of our children and our shared legacy.
