Highland Students Celebrate New Facilities
Perched high in the mountains and miles away from Ba town, the children of Nakoroboya Primary School thought that Mother Nature had shattered their dreams.
Just two years ago their newlybuilt school was the pride of Nakoroboya until Tropical Cyclone Winston destroyed it with its wrath.
But help was on the way.
The Government, with their Japanese counterpart, have brought back smiles to the faces of the children there following the opening of a new classroom block. Their eagerness brought about by the new learning environment seemed to have momentarily erased the pains suffered after Tropical Cyclone Winston. Year Eight student Adi Ratoto said: “It is overwhelming to be part of this school. When we came on the first day we were greeted with all things new.”
“We are located in a remote area but this does not stop us from getting the best facilities. We are thankful to the Fijian government and the donor agencies for the assistance.”
Year Seven student Karolina Nalibu said: “I was in Year 5 when Cyclone Winston did the damage. Looking back at the facility now, it is far better than what we had previously.
“I feel excited coming to school every day just like other students from the village. We all want to attend school every day.”
A building with four classrooms and two teachers quarters were completely destroyed while other structures were partially affected.
Rebuilding began on March 23 last year and this entailed new classrooms, an ablution block accessible to disabled people, and the provision of a generator. Headteacher Mitchell Raqona said: “Everything is normal now. Winston brought good things to Nakoroboya.”
The school has a roll of 81 students from Year 1 to Year 8 with five teachers.
The school serves Nakoroboya Village and the neighbouring settlements of Cakaulevu, Maleya, Nabutini, Vunatogotogo, Yabia, Ireladi, Tokairavuga, Narogi, Lumaluma and Wailailai.
Background
The school was established in 2006 not far from the village through a grant from DFAT (formerly AUS Aid).
The whole property was relocated to the current site on November 27, 2014.
The school is located 3.5 kilometres from the village and 27 km from Ba town.
The reason for the relocation was because of a typhoid outbreak, landslides and students having to cross two creeks to reach the old site was considered a high risk.
The school has also established an Early Childhood Education centre (kindergarten) with a fulltime teacher and 11 students.