Japan’s Ambassador to Fiji, Michii Rokuichiro, encouraged students at Dreketi Central College in Macuata on Friday to embrace the opportunity for academic growth as he launched the handover ceremony for three newly built classrooms funded by the Japanese Government.
The funding, amounting to $333,784, was provided through the Japanese Government’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) program. Ambassador Rokuichiro described the new classrooms as a gateway to knowledge and educational development. In addition to the classrooms, the college received three tables and chairs for teachers, along with 120 desks and chairs for students.
He urged students to take ownership of the resources offered and to use them responsibly. “We have a strong bilateral relationship with Fiji, and we continually support the improvement of education,” he remarked.
Minister for Finance, Biman Prasad, expressed pride in seeing his former school equipped with quality infrastructure and acknowledged the ambassador’s contributions. He noted that these new classrooms would significantly benefit all students at the college.
School manager Savenaca Vakacego emphasized his commitment to ensuring the construction of cyclone-resistant classrooms. Having managed the school for the past seven years, he remarked that the funding from the Japanese government came at the right time. “Your assistance will never be forgotten by our community, students, teachers, and parents,” he stated.
He highlighted the necessity of patience throughout the project’s development, from initial planning to securing the attention of the Japanese Government. Currently, the school serves 364 students in Years 9-13, while a technical college also operates on the premises.