The Nausori Education District held its inaugural awards night last evening, honoring 289 schools, which included 143 Early Childhood Education centers, 119 primary schools, and 27 notable secondary institutions.
This awards event marked a historic occasion in Fiji, acknowledging various schools for their academic excellence, involvement in sports, extracurricular activities, and initiatives that promote health.
Marika Baleca, the Senior Education Advisor for the Nausori Education District, commended the combined efforts of teachers, students, and parents in fostering environments that enhance both educational and personal development.
In an interview with Fiji One News, Baleca expressed that this year’s focus is on transforming all under-performing schools, referred to as Hope schools, with the aim of achieving academic excellence by the following year. He noted that the number of these schools has decreased to 13.
Schools that received recognition expressed their gratitude, with numerous principals stating that this initiative serves as a morale booster for both students and staff. Rejnish Dayal, Vice Principal of Waidina College in Naitasiri, remarked on the positive impact of recognizing effort, saying, “With human beings, it’s always a situation where they see the reward, then they work hard for it. I think this is a great initiative.”
The awards night included categories acknowledging schools that excelled in academics, sports, and various extracurricular engagements, as well as those that promoted student health and well-being.
“We are giving out numerous awards to those schools that achieve 100 percent in examinations. We aim to reward them to uplift their spirits and encourage them to reach the next level,” Baleca stated.
The event not only celebrated the accomplishments of the past year but also sought to motivate ongoing excellence and innovation in the future.