A school management board from North fully supports zoning policy

A school management board from the Northern Division has fully supported Education Minister Doctor Mahendra Reddy’s comments on the school zoning policy.

The management board of Waiqele Primary and Secondary says the policy is long overdue and they thank the Ministry of Education for bringing it into force.

School Manager Vir Singh says their school is affected and about 150 students from Waiqele travel to Labasa Town daily to attend school.

Singh says these students are from Nakama, Coquru, Nabekavu and Naduna villages.

He says that Waiqele Primary and Secondary schools have produced very good results, and have all the facilities and qualified teachers.

However the school manager says their school roll has been going down as most of the students get the bus fare assistance and travel to town to go to school there.

Singh also advises the Minister for Education to disregard the people writing in the papers opposing the zoning policy.

He says their school management would like Doctor Reddy to keep a firm stand on the issue and implement the zoning policy without any delay.

Doctor Mahendra Reddy has told Fijivillage that the reason for the school zoning policy is to ensure that people utilize the schools in their area.

While some people have raised concern about this issue, Doctor Reddy says that if people do not want to send their children in their zone then the ministry would have to close the school in their area. 

Doctor Reddy says that zoning will ensure that all schools are adequately inhabited and there will be no overcrowding in schools as free choices in school enrolments will be restricted. 

The Education Minister says this will further lead to the improvement of quality performance by all schools.

He says that there are exceptional cases which are given due consideration.

Some of these situations can be preferences to take up vernacular subjects, for example, Hindi studies, Na Vosa Vaka Viti and Urdu which may not be offered by all schools, preferences for certain subject combinations which may not be available in the nearest school and attending religious studies at faith based schools hence attending schools outside the zone.

Doctor Reddy says students already in a school outside a zone may continue at the same school.

The Minister says that people need to understand that this is not a blanket policy for all as there are extracts of the policy which cover the range of concerns that people have.  

He says those that are not understanding the policy must not create undue confusion but seek an audience with the Education Ministry.