$3.5m ‘a small price’ for children’s future
We pray to God that we never see another cyclone like Winston again, not here on Koro and not anywhere else in Fiji. But if it comes, we know that this school will be standing the next day, when the winds die down and the morning sun shines.
Voreqe Bainimarama Prime Minister
THREE and a half million dollars is a small price to pay for the future of our children. These were the words of Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama while commissioning the new Nakodu Mudu Primary School, on Koro Island during his tour of Lomaiviti.
“We pray to God that we never see another cyclone like Winston again, not here on Koro and not anywhere else in Fiji. But if it comes, we know that this school will be standing the next day, when the winds die down and the morning sun shines.” “Your children will have their classes and be with their teachers and friends. The cost was more than $3.5 million—a small price to pay for the future of our children.”
The $3,252,940 alone was utilised in strengthening the building which included the reconstruction included six classrooms, a dining hall, library and a main office.
It caters for 81 primary school students and 13 Early Childhood Education (ECE) pre-schoolers who are all taught by five teachers.
Nakodu Mudu Primary School was destroyed by TC Winston that made landfall in Fiji on February 20, 2016, and since then the students who attend the school have had their lessons in Mudu village. School manager, Isimeli Nacika was thankful to the Government for assisting the school and two clans after TC Winston’s devastation.
Mr Nacika said after TC Winston it was a challenge for both the staff and the students in Mudu village where they had to use a make-shift classroom.
“Teachers had a difficult time because they had to use small spaces as classrooms and the teachers’ quarters had also been damaged.”
“But now we are grateful for Government’s assistance. Now our teachers don’t have to work under a leaking roof. We now have proper teacher’s quarters too.”
Head teacher Nakodu Mudu primary Tomasi Mawi was grateful to the Prime Minister and his government for rebuilding this school.