A groundbreaking ceremony in Dakuni village, Sawau District, on Beqa Island has marked the start of construction for a new kindergarten and infant school that community leaders say will transform access to early childhood education on the island. The Dakuni Kindergarten is being delivered with a $72,000 contribution from the Fiji Water Foundation channelled through the non‑government organisation Live & Learn, while the Dakuni Infant School has been funded by the Ministry of Education at a cost of $37,000.
The combined investment—$109,000—will allow young children from Dakuni to attend classes in their own village rather than travelling to and boarding at Dakuibeqa Primary School, a practice that has placed financial and social strain on families. School Manager Josefa Cegucegu described the project as a “long‑awaited milestone,” noting that children are currently being taught in the village community hall and will soon move into purpose‑built classrooms.
Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Aliki Bia, who attended the ceremony, framed the project as part of the coalition government’s wider focus on education as a driver of national development. “Education is something the coalition government is emphasizing to help bolster our needs and help our country prosper. Government cannot do everything alone; that’s why partnerships are important,” Bia said, also praising the people of Dakuni for their initiative in prioritising education for their children.
Local leaders and education officials say the new facilities will ease immediate logistical burdens on families and improve learning conditions for pre‑primary students, providing a safer, more consistent environment than the temporary arrangement in the community hall. Officials expect the infant school to cater to younger learners who previously had limited options on the island, while the kindergarten will focus on early childhood development that prepares children for primary schooling.
The project is the latest of several small‑scale infrastructure and education initiatives the government and partner organisations have announced this year aimed at improving service delivery to remote communities. By combining government funding with NGO and private foundation support, the Dakuni development illustrates how public‑private partnerships are being used to expand education access in outlying areas.
No construction timeline was announced at the ceremony, and officials have yet to release details on classroom capacity, staffing or the date pupils will move into the new buildings. Community leaders, however, said planning and mobilisation for the construction phase would commence immediately following the ground‑breaking, signalling a swift transition from planning to delivery for what residents call a key step toward stronger learning outcomes for Beqa’s youngest children.
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