Closer of State Owned Schools due to High Expenditure

State schools under review

writer : LOSALINI RASOQOSOQO

Government is looking at recommendations to close State-owned schools.
Minister for Education Filipe Bole revealed this to Fiji SUN yesterday but said no immediate action would be taken.
He said this was part of Government’s effort attached to the reforms carried out by the Public Service Commission (PSC).
“There are only 12 Government schools out of the 1000 or so in the country. The move is part of cutting down on the expenditures,” Mr Bole said.
However, he said, there were special considerations for prominent schools with historical background like Adi Cakobau School, Queen Victoria School and Ratu Kadavulevu School.
“For these schools with history attached to them, there will be discussions and consultations on how we will handle them,” Mr Bole said.
Laucala Bay Secondary School has been the first Government school to be earmarked for closure by next year.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has agreed to the request by the board of Adi Cakobau School to renovate the school when he visited ACS yesterday.
While there to launch the bus e-ticketing system, he agreed that engineers from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) would renovate three damaged wooden buildings which were formerly used as classrooms and dormitories.
This is to cater for the increasing number of boarders.

The renovation will be funded by the Prime Minister’s Office.