REPAIRS and renovation of Queen Victoria School — to be completed by the third school term — will include a multi-purpose hall named after the Indonesian Government for its rebuilding of the all-boys school.
Some old buildings at the school are expected to be demolished and fully replaced by new buildings as revealed by the Indonesian Embassy first secretary, Ambrosius Thomas, yesterday.
But the priority will be to get the classrooms, dormitories, the laboratories and the staff quarters back to normal.
Education Minister Dr Mahendra Reddy, after a meeting with Indonesian Government representatives, said QVS would be able to operate by term three.
Dr Reddy said QVS was seen as an icon in Fijian education and the loss of this school was like a shock to everyone.
“We wanted to meet them (Indonesian soldiers) in person and offer them all our support so that they speed up the process. We are very happy with the work that they have done, they will finish the chapel and here they are using all the local materials,” Dr Reddy said.
“Once finished they would move on to the classrooms and the staff quarters and by then the materials should arrive from Indonesia, work should speed up and we look at completion by end of August.
“It is our target for students to return to term three, our target is to have this project completed by end of August or the latest mid August and we will get the PM to have a look.”
Dr Reddy said a multi-purpose hall could be used for students conferences and activities, public seminars and lectures.
Another 70 Indonesian military engineers are expected into Fiji on June 1 to assist in the work carried out at QVS.
Their work is expected to be completed by August 29.
