Students at Lekutu Secondary School and Lekutu District School no longer face the challenges of traveling from nearby islands and villages to attend classes, thanks to the construction of a new boarding house funded by the Australia Cyclone Recovery Program.
The recent addition of a dining hall, classrooms, teachers’ quarters, and washroom facilities marks a significant development for the students in the remote Lekutu District of Vanua Levu. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka officially inaugurated the new facilities in the presence of Ewen McDonald, the Australian High Commissioner to Fiji.
Valued at $11.3 million, the project now serves 425 students and teachers. The schools suffered extensive damage during Tropical Cyclone Yasa, which struck Fiji in 2020, disrupting the education of around 400 pupils at that time, as reported by the Office of the Prime Minister.
During the opening ceremony, Prime Minister Rabuka expressed gratitude to the Australian Government and its citizens for their continued support. He emphasized the importance of the bilateral partnership between Fiji and Australia, which encompasses development and educational assistance. “Today we see the fruits of this collaboration,” he stated, highlighting the new infrastructure as a pivotal enhancement to the learning environment for children in Lekutu.
Rabuka praised the three-year project as a reflection of the commitment and diligence of all involved. He assured that the improvements in education will benefit not only Lekutu but also the wider province of Bua and the entire nation of Fiji. “It’s a promise to our children and to all Fijians that education is our priority,” he affirmed, reassuring that every child will have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
He encouraged students, teachers, and school management to take responsibility for the new facilities and to effectively use the resources provided by the Australian Government to promote quality inclusive education in Lekutu.
Lekutu Secondary School Principal Suresh Sharma expressed gratitude on behalf of the school community to the Australian Government for their timely support, stating that the new facilities would greatly enhance the students’ learning experience. The project was a collaborative effort between the Australian High Commission and the Ministry of Education.