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, inspected Deshbandhu Vitogo Primary School in Lautoka yesterday. The school suffered extensive damage due to a fire that occurred on Saturday, October 12, 2024. The blaze destroyed the school office, four classrooms, and the Computer Lab, although firefighters from the National Fire Authority managed to save the Library, the Early Childhood Education classroom, and the school toilets.
Minister Nalumisa reassured the school community that temporary arrangements would be implemented to ensure students can continue their education. Early Childhood Education students will remain in their current classroom, while Years 1 and 2 students will be accommodated in the school Library. Students from Years 5 and 6 will utilize a vacant teacher’s quarters, and those from Years 3, 4, 7, and 8 will be housed in a tent provided by UNICEF as a temporary classroom.
Counseling and psychosocial support will be available for teachers and students this week. Deshbandhu Vitogo Primary School currently has a roll of 49 students, comprising 38 from Year 1 to Year 8 and 11 in Early Childhood Education.
The Fiji Police Force and the National Fire Authority are conducting investigations to determine the cause of the fire.