Maciu Nalumisa, the Minister for Housing and Local Government, alongside Iliesa Vanawalu, the Assistant Minister for Education, and Ms. Selina Kuruleca, the Permanent Secretary, visited Deshbandhu Vitogo Primary School in Lautoka for an inspection yesterday.
The school suffered extensive damage from a fire on Saturday, October 12, 2024, which completely destroyed the school office, four classrooms, and the Computer Lab. Fortunately, officials from the National Fire Authority were able to contain the blaze, preventing damage to the Library, the Early Childhood Education classroom, and the school toilets.
Minister Nalumisa assured the school community that temporary arrangements would be established to ensure that students could continue their education. Early Childhood Education students will remain in their classroom, while students in Years 1 and 2 will be accommodated in the Library. Students from Years 5 and 6 will utilize a vacant teacher’s quarters, and students from Years 3, 4, 7, and 8 will learn in a tent provided by UNICEF as a temporary classroom.
This week, teachers and students will also receive counseling and psychosocial support. Deshbandhu Vitogo Primary School currently has a total of 49 students: 38 are enrolled from Years 1 to 8, and 11 are in the Early Childhood Education program.
The Fiji Police Force and the National Fire Authority are conducting investigations to determine the potential cause of the fire.