The Ministry of Education has given the approval for the Fiji Secondary Schools Athletics Association to continue with the Coca Cola Games Athletics Competition this year.
Education Minister Doctor Mahendra Reddy said they understand the situation we are in but the Ministry wants to ensure that they do not deprive students of this opportunity.
The competition is rated as the largest secondary schools athletics competition in the world and has produced some outstanding athletes who have done Fiji proud in the past.
He said this competition would provide an electrifying atmosphere that would allow teachers and students to enjoy and recover from the devastation of Tropical Cyclone Winston.
Doctor Reddy said the conditions that have been mutually agreed to with the organizers are that the cyclone affected maritime schools will not be participating, the cyclone affected schools in Viti Levu and Vanua Levu will be paid in advance for all transportation costs, they will be allowed to use up to $3000 from the Free Education Grant to assist in picking up other costs for the schools to participate in the competition and the schools can apply to the Ministry to get additional funding of up to $500 to allow them to participate in the competition.
The other condition is that the cyclone affected schools in Viti Levu and Vanua Levu will not be asking children or their parents to provide any cash contribution towards meeting the cost of this competition.
Meanwhile the Coca Cola Games Organizing Committee said they will look into the issue of transportation costs once they confirm the participating schools from Viti Levu and Vanua levu.
Coca Cola Games organizer, Vuli Waqa said they will reimburse all transportation costs to participating schools.
He said they will be able to have discussions with individual schools when things are confirmed.
The Coca Cola Games will be held on the 29th and 30th of April.
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