UAE to Fund Building of New Schools

The United Arab Emirates Red Crescent is committed to the Government’s Adopt a School programme. It will build three new schools programme following a signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Thursday.

The agreement sees $10.5 million committed to the funding of the schools.

The United Arab Emirates Red Crescent visited Fiji in April 2017, and inspected more than 30 schools with the view to adopt a school. Following this it was decided that the UAE Red Crescent would fund the construction of three schools.

THE RESPECTIVE SITES EARMARKED ARE IN NABUKAVESI, SIGATOKA AND LAUTOKA.

1. Rau Simione Matanitobua College – Lobau Village in Namosi. Between 2002-2003 there were natural disasters which hit the school and the school was unable to recover from this

2. Lautoka Mission College- Natowaqa. Seven secondary schools surround the proposed school with more than 5000 students.

3. Sigatoka Methodist College in Kulukulu, Sigatoka. Permanent Secretary for Economy Makereta Konrote said instead of the UAE government investing on rehabilitation programme, it was advisable that they would build new schools.

“The Government has invested $200 million to rehabilitating schools that have been severely damaged post TC Winston,” said Ms Konrote.

“This is a two year programme, in the first year, the Government allocated $170 million. This year we have a $90 million project.

“I want to emphasize on the re-build and re-view of the schools’ infrastructure.”

Ms Konrote said the new schools would not only increase the access to education, but also the quality of the facilities.

On behalf of UAE Saleh Ahmed Al-suwaidi said: “This will establish a genuine partnership with our friends in Fiji, and from this partnership we have learned that co-operation is the only way to solve and overcome challenges. “We believe that the Government emphasises the importance of schools. This is important for this generation to grow and support the economy of the country.”

In 2010, Fiji and UAE formalised diplomatic relations and this was another milestone event for the two countries. Edited by Ranoba Baoa