No more rush time for teacher
Ateacher at Seaqaqa Primary School in Macuata will now have the opportunity to be in class on time and save travel costs.
Thanks to the Ministry of Education, the teacher, who would spend at least 30 minutes or more on the road and fork out at least $60 or more in travel costs, now has a living quarters provided to him and the family. The school is located about 30 kilometres from Labasa Town.
School manager Mohammed Janab thanked the Ministry of Education for giving them a grant to build the quarters, at a cost of about $41,000.
“With the new quarters, the teacher’s presence in school is addressed and he can devote more time in delivering education, rather then rushing to school from Labasa,” Mr Janab said.
The school has three quarters already and employs 11 teachers.
Minister Rosy Akbar, who opened the quarters, urged the teachers and management to keep the homes in good order. “Across Fiji, there is a great need for teachers’ quarters and we try to prioritise and use how best we can help,” Ms Akbar said. “We want to see heads of schools working together with the teachers and the management.”
She understood that some teachers travelled far to attend schools and she commended them for their commitment.
The school, built in 1993 was totally destroyed in a fire in 1996. It took the management two months to rebuild with the help from board members and donors. Since then, the student roll has increased gradually.
Today, the school caters for 172 students and 15 preschoolers from 18 villages.