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Barefoot College will not receive any certificates – Vuniwaqa

September 12, 2019 12:35 pm

Women's Minister Mereseini Vuniwaqa

Graduates from the Barefoot College in Macuata will not receive any certificates.

Women’s Minister Mereseini Vuniwaqa says this is to ensure that they remain in their communities and maintain their various solar home systems.

Vuniwaqa says 17 solar engineers have graduated from India under the Barefoot College and 5 of them will be trainers at the Barefoot College in Macuata.

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“The EFL has been trying to get these women to come and work and that was the reason behind why Barefoot College in India said that one of the conditions of this is they do not get the certification even though they have the knowledge so that they remain in the communities. They have come up with the financing mechanism to ensure that they become independent income-wise but at the same time remain in the communities to assist the government in this particular initiative.

Vuniwaqa says the government continues to roll out solar home systems throughout the country and Barefoot College graduates will help in its maintenance.

Meanwhile, the Barefoot College Fiji is currently under construction in Macuata.