There are more early childhood education facilities, or kindergartens in Fiji than primary schools.
Minister for Education Dr Mahendra Reddy made the comments in Rakiraki today where he was at chief guest at a handing over ceremony at the Rakiraki District School.
The Minister handed over a newly built staff quarters and a completed fencing project to the school management.
There are about 8 hundred primary schools in Fiji – and with government giving free education grants now – there has been a boom in the establishment of early childhood centers across Fiji.
“Because parents don’t have to pay any type of fees to send their child to an EC center. This is the kind of education system we have which is responding to the needs of the community and our children. We want every child to have access to education, right from EC, to high school and university,” said Dr Mahendra Reddy – Education Minister.
The Minister also said they are now addressing the needs of individual schools based on their location.
“Most of the schools were constructed by faith based groups in the community. That model failed to provide equal footing for all our children in the education system. We are now looking at the needs of individual schools.”