Foreign students to return to classes

JAPANESE students enrolled with Free Bird Institute Ltd (FBIL) in Nadi have been allowed to return to classes in Fiji after the company was given conditional approval from the COVID-19 Risk Mitigation Taskforce.

According to the company, the special approval was granted through the Specific Request under Significant Economic Value category of the Fijian COVID Safe Economic Recovery Framework.

FBIL chief operating officer Mereseini Baleilevuka said they had been liaising with relevant stakeholders to ensure that all parties were on the same page in carrying out the first phase of their business recovery plan.

“We envisage to train all of our staff that will be involved in this process on the necessary health measures that will be put in place to ensure the safety of everyone, including those in our community,” she said.

“Students will also undergo three COVID-19 tests, the first test needs to be done pre-departure, second upon arrival and third at the end of the quarantine period.

“We will also work with our teams in Japan to ensure that all students are made aware of all these requirements prior to departure and what is expected of them during the quarantine period.”

According to the company, the return of the students would allow some staff members who had been stood down to return to work.

It also provided financial relief for homestay families who would host the returning international students.

Over the past four years, the company paid out $5.1 million in homestay fees to more than 200 families in Nadi and Lautoka.