After AQEP Ends, Programme Will Still Rehabilitate and Reconstruct Schools

The work of the Access to Quality Education Programme (AQEP), will end in June. However, the flagship of education programme funded by the Australian government will continue to rehabilitate and reconstruct schools in Ra and Koro Island that were severely damaged by Tropical Cyclone Winston. These consist of 12 schools in Ra and six schools on Koro Island. This was assured by AQEP’s team leader, Priscilla Puamau at the Education Forum 2017 yesterday at Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi. The Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is currently commissioning the end of the programme evaluation of AQEP and the design of the new education programme that will succeed AQEP.

“AQEP has been providing a comprehensive package of support to 85 targeted primary schools which represent 12 per cent of primary schools throughout Fiji,” Ms Puamau said. This, she said, was to improve student attendance and to improve literacy and numeracy learning outcomes for the most disadvantaged students.

Ms Puamau said these 85 primary schools were selected on purpose to include schools in poorest areas. Furthermore, AQEP has been providing trainings to the head teachers, school management committees and communities.

“In addition, schools and their communities have been trained in income generation such as bee keeping, virgin coconut oil and desiccated coconut production, soil testing, small business management, tailoring, screen printing, rearing chickens, and the use of organic fertilisers and pesticides,” Ms Puamau said. Ministry of Education Deputy Secretary Professional, Kelera Taloga commended the works of AQEP.

Ms Taloga revealed that through the AQEP training, children from two of the schools had acquired various entrepreneur skills and they are also earning.

Furthermore, AQEP has been providing trainings to the head teachers, school management committees and communities.