Maciu Nalumisa, the Minister for Housing and Local Government, along with Iliesa Vanawalu, the Assistant Minister for Education, and Ms. Selina Kuruleca, the Permanent Secretary, inspected Deshbandhu Vitogo Primary School in Lautoka yesterday. The school suffered significant damage from a fire on October 12, 2024, which destroyed the school office, four classrooms, and the Computer Lab. Fortunately, the National Fire Authority was able to contain the blaze, preventing further damage to the Library, the Early Childhood Education classroom, and the school toilets.
Minister Nalumisa reassured the school community that temporary solutions will be implemented to enable students to continue their education. ECE students will remain in their classroom, while Years 1 and 2 will utilize the Library. Students in Years 5 and 6 will occupy a vacant teacher’s quarters, and those in Years 3, 4, 7, and 8 will learn in a tent provided by UNICEF as a temporary classroom.
Additionally, teachers and students will receive counseling and psychosocial support this week. Deshbandhu Vitogo Primary School has a total enrollment of 49 students, with 38 from Year 1 to Year 8 and 11 in ECE.
Investigations are currently being conducted by the Fiji Police Force and the National Fire Authority to determine the cause of the fire.