ABOUT 300 students of a Nadi school were beneficiaries of an Australian government aid program which resulted in a flood-damaged classroom block being renovated at a cost of $85,000.
Nawaka District School is one of 59 learning centres earmarked for repairs and rehabilitation by the Australian government.
Staff, students and community members welcomed Australian Head of Mission Glenn Miles, Minister Counsellor – Pacific John Davidson and Access to Quality Education Program (AQEP) team leader Priscilla Puamau at the recommissioning of the classroom block yesterday.
Mr Miles said the Australian government through the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) was committed to improving the health and education of the impoverished in Pacific Islands like Fiji.
"It is hard to imagine that just a few months ago there was a metre and a half of water inside some of these classrooms," he said.
"It is good to see the progress of the repairs and I am sure everyone in the community will be very pleased when all the school buildings, the teachers' quarters and the fences are finally fixed in August."
Mr Miles acknowledged the contribution of Save the Children Fiji (SCF) in providing meals at the school, saying it lessened the burden on parents struggling to make ends meet.
Nawaka District School headteacher Joeli Bulu Derenalagi thanked the Australian government for the timely assistance and said the people of Nawaka were grateful not only for the refurbishment but also for providing water medicine, clothing and shelter in the aftermath of the floods.