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Education Minister clarifies Nadroga Navosa campus issue

April 2, 2019 6:23 am

The decision to covert the Nadroga Navosa Provincial High School into a technical college was made by majority of Fijians residing within the area.

Education Minister Rosy Akbar reveals one of the reasons for the conversion was that the school building needed a lot of renovations.

Akbar says the provincial council was having a difficult time maintaining the infrastructure and student numbers were declining at the same time.

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She adds there were objections on converting the school into a college but consultations were done with members of the community.

“A petition came out with strong objections to the establishments and operation of the school into a technical college but as I read through the report – there was overwhelming support not only for Nadroga Navosa but across the country where technical colleges have been established. Yes the way forward is for us to do a stock take of the students who have graduated, where they are and which other courses we can implement with the right infrastructure and expertise that’s needed to support the teaching and learning within this campuses.”

Speaking in parliament on the issue yesterday, Akbar reveals that many of the students that go on trainings – do not come back to complete their courses as there is a high demand of people in their field.

She adds the college has now expanded with other courses offered and caters for many nearby.