Opposition MP Ketan Lal has called on the Ministry of Education to shut down schools affected by the planned water cuts announced by the Water Authority of Fiji. In a recent statement, Lal expressed that the disruptions, set to impact various areas in the central division, present significant health and safety hazards for both students and teachers if schools continue to operate without sufficient water access.
Lal criticized the Ministry for not closing the impacted schools, labeling their inaction as troubling. He emphasized that the well-being of children must always take precedence.
“It is imperative that the Ministry supplies affected schools with adequate water resources or alternative solutions, such as water tanks, standpipes, or bottled water, to uphold hygiene standards,” Lal stated.
He urged the Ministry to work closely with the Water Authority and other relevant agencies to develop contingency plans to minimize educational disruptions. Lal condemned the idea of students being placed in environments lacking essential facilities necessary for their health and safety.
“The government must act decisively to prioritize our students and ensure that no child is put at risk. I am urging the Minister for Education to responsibly close any schools severely affected by the water cuts until the issue is fully resolved,” he concluded.