Gujarat society opens school
ON February 25, 1966, The Fiji Times ran a supplement on the establishment of schools by the Gujarat Education Society of Fiji.
One of the reports was on Nehru Memorial Primary School that was to be opened the next day, February 26, 1966.
The report stated the new school was to supplement the work of the society’s MGM School and MGM High School, both of which had grown steadily in size and service to the community over the past decade.
The cost of building the new school was £35,000.
The amount was raised largely by contributions from Gujarati businessmen of Suva and Nausori.
It would accommodate about 800 children.
The plans and specifications were prepared by Raojibhai K Patel who also supervised the construction of the building.
The contractor for the project was Ram Kissun Bros, of Vatuwaqa.
A simple religious ceremony marked the beginning of the new Nehru Memorial School.
It was performed on November 22, 1964 by S B Desai, who was then the president of the Gujarat Education Society of Fiji,
As the construction of the building progressed the school was brought into use.
Four infant classes began in the first term of 1965.
The full stream of classes from 1 to 8 was in session from the second term.
On the history of establishing other schools by the society, the report read on February 2, 1953 the Gujarat Education Society of Fiji started its first primary school known as Balmandir School with Narain Singh as the head teacher.
At that time, there were four classes with a roll of 222 students.
The following year saw almost a 50 per cent increase in numbers.
The roll for 1954 was 320. Two more teachers joined the staff and another class was added to the school and the society arranged a special bus service for these children.
In 1955, there was a slight increase in the roll and 351 pupils attended the school.
Further expressions to the school made it impossible to accommodate the increase in number of students.
It was the aim of the school to impart education for the students right up to Class 8 level.
The year 1956 opened with a roll of 400 of whom 222 were boys and 178 girls.
The staff number rose from seven to nine.
As time went by, the classrooms became more and more crowded and eventually the society, after serious consideration, decided to erect a new school building.
In 1957, a grant of £2800 was made by the Education Department.
In 1959, a building contract was signed with the Fiji Construction company. The foundation stone of the proposed new building was laid by J G Rodger, Director of Education at that time, on February 14, 1959.
More loan was sought as the Society wanted education for their children.
So a further loan of £10,000 from Gandhi Hall Trust Board, the new school building with 13 classrooms, was completed at an approximate cost of £20,000.
The school was renamed Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Primary School.