Opposition Member of Parliament Ketan Lal has called on the Ministry of Education to shut down schools affected by the planned water cuts announced by the Water Authority of Fiji.
Lal expressed concerns that the scheduled disruptions, which will affect several areas in the central division, could pose significant health and safety risks for both students and teachers if schools remain operational without sufficient water supply. He criticized the Ministry for not closing the impacted schools, emphasizing that the well-being of children should be a priority.
He urged the Ministry to ensure that affected schools receive adequate water resources or alternative solutions, such as water tanks, standpipes, or bottled water, to uphold hygiene standards.
Lal also demanded that the Ministry coordinate with the Water Authority and other relevant entities to establish contingency plans to minimize any interruptions to education. He stressed that it is unacceptable for students to be placed in conditions that lack essential facilities for their health and safety.
“The government must take decisive action to prioritize our students and ensure that no child is put at risk. I am urging the Minister for Education to make the responsible decision and temporarily close any schools that will be severely affected by the water cuts until the situation is completely resolved,” Lal stated.