TERM 3 BEGINS WITH SHINING JOY FOR BUA SCHOOL
PM opens teachers’ quarters, a girls’ hostel, a dining hall and their early childhood education centre
For the students and teachers of Nadi District School in Bua, the first day of Term 3 was the most beautiful. The Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama opened four teachers’ quarters, a girls’ hostel, a dining hall and their early childhood education centre for the school yesterday.
On February 20, 2016, they felt the wrath of Tropical Cyclone Winston as it ravaged through its buildings.
Nadi District School headteacher Pateresio Kotoinaqara said he was among the teachers’ whose quarters were damaged.
“I didn’t know how I would help rebuild the facilities and empower students and teachers to survive,” Mr Kotoinaqara said.
“Our students come from five villages - Nasolo, Nasavu, Buresivo, Nadua and Waikona.” He said it was after Mr Bainimarama’s visit to the school a few days after TC Winston that gave them hope.
“The school received a grant from the Government and over a few years we managed to rebuild,” he said.
The cost of the project is $1.1 million.
Nadi District School head girl Salaseini Balenaisa was in Year 4 in 2016.
“As a hostel student I went home to Nasolo Village that Saturday.” But when she returned, she found that it was no more.
“I am really thankful to our Prime Minister for giving us a proper place to learn,” she said. The school roll is 126, from early childhood education to Year 8. 42 girls are being accommodated at the hostel.
Nasavu Village headman Maciu Votutawa said most of the students were from his village as it was located quite a distance from the school.
“Thank you to Mr Bainimarama and his Government for helping us with a special grant to rebuild our houses.”
He also thanked the Government for helping their children to continue their education.
Building back stronger
Mr Bainimarama said in his speech: “Day by day, we gave meaning to our rallying cry ‘Stronger Than Winston’ by fulfilling our promise to build back better, putting in the time and resources to rebuild in line with cyclone resilient standards.
“We never gave up, even in the face of new cyclones like Keni, Josie, and Gita and, more recently, cyclones Sarai, Tino and Harold.
“Every building including the dining hall, hostel, teachers quarters and school block has been rebuilt to withstand the winds of future storms as part of our national commitment to rebuild better.”