Teachers who have returned to their hometowns are playing a pivotal role in transforming rural education with the recent inauguration of Namuka Secondary School in Macuata. All staff at the school hail from the Namuka district, a strategy that principal Eroni Matatia believes is enhancing student discipline and reinforcing cultural values. This local approach helps educators gain a deeper understanding of the challenges that students and their families face.
Matatia emphasizes the importance of keeping education intertwined with family, community, and church values. He points out the potential negative impact that sending children away for education can have on their development, exposing them to social pressures that may detract from their academic focus. “We understand the situation here in the village. When parents send their children to Labasa, they sometimes pick up behaviours not taught at home, and this affects their education,” he noted. The establishment of the school allows for greater parental involvement and a supportive environment that addresses rising concerns such as drug abuse.
Furthermore, the educators are bringing valuable experience from urban teaching into the rural landscape, aiming to elevate educational standards in Namuka and better equip students for their futures. The opening of Namuka Secondary School not only provides a learning environment but also fosters a sense of community care and guidance, ensuring students thrive while remaining connected to their families and the local culture. This initiative signals a hopeful shift toward more accessible and culturally relevant education for rural students.
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