I’m against the Govt boarding school policy - Kepa

Opposition Leader, Ro Teimumu Kepa said she will continue to raise concerns regarding the government boarding school policy as SODELPA is against the policy to only allow students from rural and maritime areas into the government boarding schools.

When questioned on why she said that this is a threat to the Itaukei, Ro Teimumu said she is concerned about the three boarding schools - Adi Cakobau School, Queen Victoria School and Ratu Kadavulevu School.

Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama stresses that the government boarding school policy to assist students from the rural and maritime areas is not a threat to the Itaukei as claimed by Ro Teimumu Kepa.

Bainimarama said the policy is determined purely on the basis of need and applies to all government boarding schools which include ACS, Labasa College, QVS, RKS and Natabua High.

When questioned on why the issue of ethnicity has been brought up by her in this case where the focus is to ensure that those in the rural areas who do not have access to secondary schools are given boarding school places, Ro Teimumu said this is just an interpretation of some people.

Bainimarama said the real victims in this case are students living in rural and maritime areas who have been deprived of proper access to education because the sons and daughters of families living in urban areas have taken their places in Government boarding schools.

He said those from rural and maritime areas come from families who have no choice but to send their children to boarding school because other options are simply not available.