Students at Natusara Primary School in Kadavu are currently unable to attend classes due to a disruption in transportation services, which boat owners have halted. This situation has been reported by parents despite Education Minister Aseri Radrodro’s statement that payments to boat owners have been made, contradicting claims from the community that these transportation services ceased because of unpaid dues.
Parent Keleti Saukitoga expressed frustration, noting this is not the first occurrence; a similar issue arose last year when payments for boat transport were delayed. He revealed that 48 students from Dravuni, Buliya, and Narikoso have already missed school this week, with students missing two consecutive days as of yesterday. Parents have reached out to both the Minister for Education and local MP Lenora Qereqeretabua to address these ongoing concerns.
Minister Radrodro responded by stating that the Ministry of Education has fulfilled its payment obligations to the transport providers. He mentioned having documentation to confirm that three suppliers, including Natusara Primary School, have received their payments. He insisted that classes should continue uninterrupted despite any late payments, asserting, “I don’t see any reason…the payment has been made.”
This issue highlights the ongoing challenges related to the reliable transport of students in remote areas, pointing to the need for a stable and efficient transportation system to support education. Given the Ministry of Education’s commitment and the expressed frustrations of the community, there is hope that effective solutions will be implemented promptly to ensure that students can safely and reliably access their education.
Furthermore, the situation underlines the necessity for ongoing communication between the Ministry, local transport providers, and school communities, to prevent future disruptions and reinforce the importance of reliable transportation in educational accessibility.
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