Japan’s Ambassador to Fiji, Michii Rokuichiro, urged students at Dreketi Central College (DCC) in Macuata on Friday to embrace the opportunity for academic growth and seize the pathways to knowledge. The ambassador attended a ceremony alongside Coalition Government assistant ministers, including Minister for Finance, Biman Prasad, to inaugurate three recently constructed classrooms funded by the Japanese Government.
The project received a financial boost of $333,784 through the Japanese Government’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) program. Mr. Rokuichiro emphasized that the new classrooms symbolize a gateway to education and personal development. Along with the funding, the college also received three tables and chairs for teachers, as well as 120 new desks and chairs for students.
In his address, the ambassador encouraged the students to take responsibility for the resources and make the most of them. “We have a strong bilateral relationship with Fiji, and education is an area where we consistently provide support,” he stated.
Minister Prasad expressed pride in witnessing the advancements in infrastructure at his former school, highlighting that the new classrooms would significantly benefit all students attending DCC.
School manager Savenaca Vakacego shared his commitment to ensuring the construction of cyclone-resistant classrooms and noted how the funding from the Japanese government came at a crucial time. “Your assistance will never be forgotten by our community, students, teachers, and parents,” he remarked.
Mr. Vakacego mentioned that patience was key from the inception of the project to its realization with the Japanese Government. Currently, the school has an enrollment of 364 students from Years 9-13, alongside an operational technical college.