Students of the Sangam School of Nursing and Health Care Education in Labasa were given nine weeks to decide which parent would attend their graduation.
Labasa Sangam School of Nursing and Health Care Education director Eleni Kata said this was necessary because the town’s civic centre could only cater for 183 graduates and a guest each.
Her comment comes after parents and families travelling from as far as Kadavu and Bua were stopped at the door by staff members during last week’s event. In an interview, Ms Kata said some graduates had to choose between their dad and mom.
“If the parents are complaining, then we had to have space for VIPs and staff,” Ms Kata said.
“The students were told way in advance of the situation, they had to tell their parents.
“For the past nine weeks, we have been telling them of the situation. We didn’t have any other place to have the graduation.
“We’d considered Subrail Park but it was too big a place and the cost of hiring it was too much.”
