This Christmas will be an unforgettable one for the students and teachers of Coloi‑Naivakacere Primary School in Tailevu, Ratu Emeri Catholic School in Wailevu West and Uluivalili College in Wailevu District in Cakaudrove as they have received much needed funding for major upgrades to their schools.
The Government of Japan through its Ambassador, Masahiro Omura confirmed that they will be providing $144,846 to Coloi‑Naivakacere Primary School, $178,068 to Ratu Emeri Catholic School and $185,385 to Uluivalili College.
Omura says all three projects will be funded through Japan's Grant Assistant for Grassroots Human Security Programme.
The Principal of Uluivalili College Rupeni Vulaca who was present at the grant contract signing ceremony in Suva says their school is situated 46km from Savusavu Town and caters for students from Year 9 to 13.
He says the school was opened in 2012 by the present government.
Vulaca says this is the only secondary school in their tikina and before 2012, parents had to send their children to Savusavu, Taveuni, Labasa or Viti Levu for secondary school studies.
He says not only the students used to move from Wailevu District but their family as well.
Vulaca says Uluivalili College now caters for students from eight primary schools in their tikina and there was an urgent need for additional classrooms.
The school only has five classrooms and is obliged to use three temporary tents to provide education to all 220 students.
The Japanese Embassy in Fiji had noted that even with the use of the temporary tents, the classrooms are still overcrowded and unable to introduce technical subjects such as computer studies and applied technology.
Vulaca says the assistance from the Japanese Government will see the construction of three new classrooms.
Meanwhile, two new classrooms will be constructed at Coloi‑Naivakacere Primary School in Tailevu and three new classrooms will be built at Ratu Emeri Catholic School in Wailevu West.
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