Japan’s Ambassador to Fiji, Michii Rokuichiro, encouraged students at Dreketi Central College (DCC) in Macuata to embrace their education and strive for academic growth during a visit on Friday. The ambassador, alongside Coalition Government assistant ministers and Minister for Finance, Biman Prasad, participated in a handover ceremony for three newly built classrooms funded by the Japanese Government.
The project received $333,784 in funding through the Japanese Government’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) program. Ambassador Rokuichiro highlighted that these new classrooms serve as a vital link to knowledge and educational development. In addition to the classrooms, the school also received three teacher’s tables and chairs, along with 120 desks and chairs for students.
Mr. Rokuichiro urged students to take responsibility for the resources provided and to use them effectively. He emphasized the strong bilateral relationship between Fiji and Japan, noting that the educational sector is one area where Japan consistently supports development.
Minister Prasad expressed pride in witnessing the enhancement of his former school’s infrastructure, acknowledging the ambassador’s support and stating that the new classrooms would greatly benefit students at the college.
School manager, Savenaca Vakacego, remarked on his commitment to building cyclone-resistant classrooms, acknowledging that the Japanese government’s funding came at a crucial time. He emphasized that the support from Japan would remain memorable for the community, students, teachers, and parents. Mr. Vakacego also noted that patience was essential from the project’s inception to the completion of the funding process. The school currently caters to 364 students from Years 9 to 13, and a technical college is also in operation.