The commissioning of a new secondary school on Matuku Island in Lau has been described by villagers as a historic milestone, saying it will spare families the hardship of sending their children to Viti Levu for education.
For decades, students from the island had to leave home after completing primary school, often relocating to Suva or other parts of Viti Levu, for further studies.
Now, with the opening of Matuku Secondary School, residents say secondary education is finally within reach for children.
Eighty-year-old Varanisese Gade described the development as a fulfilment of a long-held dream for the vanua o Matuku.
Ms Gade said families previously endured emotional and financial strain travelling to Suva to settle their children into secondary schools, leaving behind their homes, relatives and traditional way of life.
“With the establishment of Matuku Secondary School, our children no longer have to leave the island for their education,” she said.
“They can now attend school closer to home and remain with their families.”
Ms Gade said she had approached authorities under the previous governments seeking assistance to establish a secondary school on the island, but those efforts had not materialised at the time.
She said the people of Matuku were relieved and grateful that the school had finally become a reality.
Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro, who officiated at the opening, urged the vanua o Matuku to work closely with teachers and support them in their role.
He said teachers who were well cared for by the community would be better placed to provide quality education for students.
“The responsibility of educating our children is not only with the ministry and the teachers, but also with the vanua and families,” he said.
Mr Radrodro noted that during a visit to Matuku two years ago, residents had shared concerns that families were often forced to relocate entirely to Suva once children progressed beyond Year 8.
He said the situation had contributed to a decline in the island’s population, as families left in search of better educational opportunities for their children.
The minister said the establishment of the school would now allow children to continue their studies while remaining closer to their homes and communities.
He said the Ministry of Education continued to support students through initiatives such as free education, transport assistance and Back-to-School support, while communities also had a responsibility to encourage and support learning.
