Marist High origins
WHILE Marist Brothers High School came into existence at the beginning of 1937, its roots actually go deeper than this, right down to 1888 when teaching Marist Brothers first arrived in Fiji.
And it was one of these pioneer brothers, the late Brother Alphonsus, who lived to see their work develop into secondary level.
The school was first opened in a house along Waimanu Rd, Suva, above the Lilac Theatre.
From humble beginnings, the school shifted to the Suva St property in 1889. According to an article reported by The Fiji Times on June 15, 1991, this was where two schools developed, one known as St Columba’s School and the other, St Felix College.
St Felix College catered only for European boys while St Columbas’ School was a multiracial school. At St Felix College only a small number of students were prepared for overseas examinations.
In 1936 after it was announced that boys from both schools would be accepted for higher studies, a conflict broke out between the St Columbas’ School and the Education department.
Since St Felix College was registered as a European school, the secondary school department could not be legally opened to other races. The fact that the school sought no financial aid made no difference.
Later orders were received that the secondary schools was to be disbanded with the brothers being forced to comply.
In 1937, as a result of considerable representation, specifically by the Indian community, permission was finally granted to resemble the secondary students.
The year 1937 was the official date that marked the beginning of Marist Brothers High School.
In the beginning the number of student were small but later increased from 21 students in 1937 to 39 in 1939 and almost doubled the following year.
WWII did not prevent further school development, though the plans were very much delayed.
The school accommodation in the basement under the chapel at St Felix College was first used by New Zealand soldiers and later by the Americans during the war.
Although this was happening, the school continued to function with class conducted on the broad verandas of St Felix, in the college’s parlour and the Brother’s living quarters.
Despite restricted teaching hours, the student’s results were outstanding and the demand for education increased so much that an Entrance Examination was introduced. Many unfortunately had to be refused.
The number of students reached a high number that it became necessary to acquire a property to house secondary school students.
A suitable property was eventually acquired from Sir Henry Scott. The property was in Bau St where it still is to this day.
After many delays because of the difficulty in obtaining building material after the war, the first stage of the present building was opened in 1948 by then Governor of Fiji, Sir Brain Freeston.
Although all this was done, the ground at the school still had to be levelled and this work was not completed until 1953 when “Champagnat” Park was opened.
In 1956, the system of a grantin aid where schools were to receive financial assistance was implemented and Marist Brothers School was one of the first to benefit by it.
This allowed for expansion to go ahead with the doubling of the school roll and the acquisition of further property made possible the development of a secondary sports field and the extension area.
Finally, a three stream school was made possible by the erection of a future block and woodwork and trade drawing were introduced.
The development of the assembly hall was undertaken by the Parents, Teachers and Friends Associations. This was an impressive indication of their faith in the school.
The decision by the Ministry of Education to hive off Form Seven education from the University of the South Pacific and put it back to schools , left the Marist Brothers School no alternative but begin Form Seven teaching in 1992.
Founder of the school, Rev Brother Lambert was born and raised in Pahiatua, a small town in the district of New Zealand in 1903.
He was educated firstly in his home town and later at Scared Heart College in Auckland where he completed his secondary education. He then went on to Australia to train as a Marist Brother and in 1921, he became a Brother.
On his return to New Zealand, Brother Lambert taught in a number of schools until 1937 when he came to Fiji and founded the school we today call Marist Brothers School.
He remained in Fiji as a member of the high school staff for 31 years and was awarded the MBE in recognition of his service to education in Fiji.
Brother Lambert passed away in 1982 at the ripe age of 79 years old but left behind him a school and a name that the old boys will always look up to with much respect and pride- after receiving and learning so much there.