The challenges faced by students traveling from nearby islands and villages to attend Lekutu Secondary School and Lekutu District School have been alleviated with the completion of a new boarding house funded by the Australia Cyclone Recovery Program. In addition to the boarding house, new dining facilities, classrooms, teachers’ quarters, and washroom facilities were also opened last month, providing a much-needed boost to education in the remote Lekutu district of Vanua Levu.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, alongside Australian High Commissioner to Fiji Ewen McDonald, officially inaugurated the new facilities, which have a total project value of $11.3 million. These improvements are now serving 425 students and teachers. The schools had suffered significant damage during Tropical Cyclone Yasa, which struck Fiji in 2020, disrupting the education of around 400 pupils at the time.
In his speech at the opening ceremony, Mr. Rabuka expressed appreciation for the consistent support from the Australian Government and people. He emphasized that the partnership between Fiji and Australia encompasses development and educational aid, highlighting the collaboration’s impact on the local community.
The Prime Minister noted that this three-year project reflects the dedication of all those involved and stressed that the benefits of improved education would extend beyond Lekutu to the wider province of Bua and the nation of Fiji. He reiterated the government’s commitment to education as a top priority, ensuring every child has the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
He encouraged students, teachers, and school officials to take responsibility for the new facilities, urging them to maximize the benefits of this support from Australia to promote inclusive and high-quality education in Lekutu.
Suresh Sharma, the principal of Lekutu Secondary School, expressed gratitude for the assistance from the Australian Government, stating that the new facilities would significantly enhance the learning experience for students. The project was executed in cooperation between the Australian High Commission and the Ministry of Education.