Fiji’s smallest province targets education

Fiji’s smallest province, with five districts and 24 villages, is making the education of its children one of its main priorities.

Serua Province, in southern Viti Levu, is putting this priority focus into action by opening an education account.

Roko Tui Serua, Seru Ratukalou said they usually had funds for education for students in the province, but when Government provided funding for education it opened this account.

Last year he said they opened the account with $30,000 and would add another $30,000 after the Serua Day fundraising event.

“For this year we’re targeting $70,000 in the twoday event and $35K will go to education and the other $35K will go to the Provincial Council office,” Mr Ratukalou said. On Thursday, the Serua Day at the Lomary Secondary School ground was opened by the (tribe) Korolevu and they gave $10,525. The closing, Mr Serukalou said, would be done today by Burenitu district.

He said the event collected $26,000 yesterday and more would be collected today from members of the province.

“We’re optimistic to reach our target because more people will come today,” he said.

Mr Ratukalou said the province was prioritising education and urged parents to support their children in their school work. He said parents should make use of the school holidays to spend quality time with their children.

The children, he said, should be not left alone and they should be kept occupied all the time. Mr Ratukalou urged parents to make good use of Government’s education funding.

The Government’s education funding, he said, had allowed them to open their education account.

He said the province would help students in their education, but they had to ask for the type of help they wanted.