Back to school
IT’S that time of the year again when we start the count down to the beginning of another school term. We are hours away from the start of term one. Today though is when teachers will report to work, to set the base for students to start tomorrow.
Understandably, many of our children are still on holiday mode.
Let’s place value on how well we prepare our children. The State has placed a heavy focus on education over recent years through its budgetary allocations.
Education is critical for the development of any nation. It makes sense then that special attention is placed on it.
Preparation is important. Many parents and guardians hope to ensure their children are motivated to do well in school. They will be nurturing an appreciation of education.
They will plan to motivate their children to excel in school, and to do their best. The base has to be good. We should get that right first up.
The Minister for Education, Rosy Akbar, took the opportunity yesterday to welcome 13,099 teachers and 195, 883 students from all over Fiji.
This year, 5794 young Fijians, she said, will begin their formal learning journey enrolling for the first time at an Early Childhood Education Centre and 7159 will exit the education system at the end of the final term, having completed 13 years of formal learning.
She urged parents, teachers and members of the respective school management to listen to other perspectives, learn from other’s experiences and appreciate constructive views that help develop and mould the character of our young citizens.
No matter where they live or what their economic status is, every Fijian child deserves equal access to quality teaching, she said.
2020 wasn’t an easy year. In fact it will go down in history as a great challenge for parents and guardians and for the world. It will easily stand out as one of humanity’s greatest challenges.
The global COVID-19 pandemic was tough on us all. Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa was bad and left a trail of destruction late last year, that is still being felt by thousands of people in the North.
But in the face of the many challenges we had last year, and the obstacles we have before us this year, there can be no doubts about the importance we must place on education.
Lest we forget thousands of families are suffering. They have problems trying to put food on the table daily.
Thousands more are working on reduced hours, many have had pay cuts and many are actually looking at a bleak future.
We realise that times are difficult for many families, yet many are making sacrifices to ensure their children can go to school.
It is this resilience in these times of great challenges, that is empowering and inspiring.
We wish all our students and teachers the very best this school year.
We wish every family the very best.