FIVE years of schooling in discomfort inside crudely constructed classrooms have finally come to an end for the children of remote Yacata Island.
In a few weeks, students of Sukanaivalu Memorial Primary School will enter into brand new classrooms.
The old school was completely destroyed when Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston struck Fiji in 2016, forcing students to have composite classes inside the village hall for the past five years.
“Sometimes, when it got too hot and unbearable, classes were held in the outdoors. Our children had suffered for too long but we are happy now to have one of the best school facilities in Fiji,” Yacata villager, Jojivini Turagabeci said.
She said every child deserved quality education whether they lived in the city or on a remote outlying island such as Yacata. Apart from villagers, construction workers who are carrying out finishing touches to the school are also in jovial mood.
They are expected to join their loved ones back on Viti Levu after being separated from their families for about one and a half years.
“It was a privilege working on Yacata for over a year with my team of 25 dedicated men who gave it their all. We hope we’ve rebuilt a school that is of high standard and one that will make every parent and child of Yacata happy,” said Jenns Construction Ltd’s foreman, Orisi Tudreu.
“The team faced a number of challenges but it never lost sight of the reason why we came, that is giving back to the children of Yacata what had been taken away from them and ensuring that they enjoy a bright and secure future.”
Village headman Jone Vakatale said the finished school had brought a sigh of relief to teachers, parents and children.
“Since STC Winston our children had classes in our community hall and our four teachers were forced to live in one house. Now these problems are over and we have a new school with the best facilities,” Mr Vakatale said.
“It is built to Category 5 cyclone standards and we thank government for a school with facilities that are so much better than what we enjoyed previously. We thank the government for its assistance.”
Jenns Construction, the third and final company to take over the construction of the school, built a classroom block to cater for students from kindergarten level to Year 8, three teachers’ quarters and carried out two major renovations.
Sukanaivalu Memorial Primary School is named after Fiji’s military hero, the late Sefanaia Sukainaivalu, the only Fijian to be awarded the Victoria Cross, the most prestigious award for gallantry in the Commonwealth.
He died during World War II in Bougainville, Solomon Islands after giving up his life to save his comrades on June 23, 1944.
He was 26 and hailed from Yacata.
