Maciu Nalumisa, the Minister for Housing and Local Government, along with Iliesa Vanawalu, the Assistant Minister for Education, and Ms. Selina Kuruleca, the Permanent Secretary, visited Deshbandhu Vitogo Primary School in Lautoka yesterday to inspect the damage caused by a fire.
The school suffered extensive damage from a fire that occurred on Saturday, October 12. The incident destroyed the school office, four classrooms, and the Computer Lab. Fortunately, firefighters from the National Fire Authority were able to control the blaze, protecting the Library, the Early Childhood Education (ECE) classroom, and the school’s restroom facilities.
Minister Nalumisa reassured the school community that temporary arrangements will be made to ensure students can continue their education. ECE students will remain in their classroom, while Years 1-2 will be accommodated in the Library. Students from Years 5-6 will utilize a vacant teacher’s quarters, and Years 3, 4, 7, and 8 will be housed in a tent provided by UNICEF as a temporary classroom solution.
Teachers and students will receive counseling and psychosocial support this week to help them cope with the aftermath of the fire.
Deshbandhu Vitogo Primary School has a total enrollment of 49 students, comprising 38 students from Year 1 to Year 8 and 11 students in ECE.
Investigations are currently being conducted by the Fiji Police Force and the National Fire Authority to determine the cause of the fire.