The Nausori Education District held its inaugural awards night yesterday, celebrating the achievements of all 289 schools within its jurisdiction. This included 143 Early Childhood Education centers, 119 primary schools, and 27 notable secondary schools.
This event stands out as the first of its kind in Fiji, recognizing schools for their academic accomplishments, sports involvement, extracurricular activities, and health-promoting programs.
Marika Baleca, Senior Education Advisor for the Nausori Education District, commended the collaborative efforts of teachers, students, and parents in fostering environments that support both learning and personal development. He highlighted ongoing efforts to elevate underperforming schools, referred to as “Hope schools,” with a goal of achieving academic excellence by next year. He noted that the number of these schools is currently down to 13.
The recognition received by the schools was met with appreciation, with several principals indicating that the event served as a morale boost for both students and staff. Rejnish Dayal, Vice Principal of Waidina College, expressed that recognition drives people to work harder, calling the awards a fantastic initiative.
The awards night included various categories acknowledging schools with outstanding academic performance, sports, and extracurricular engagement, as well as those advocating for health and well-being among their students. Baleca mentioned that awards would be distributed to schools achieving 100 percent in examinations, aiming to motivate them to reach even higher levels of success.
The event not only celebrated past achievements but also sought to inspire ongoing excellence and innovation for the future.