WHILE some are still tucked away in bed enjoying their sleep, students of Nubunikavula Village in Macuata brave the cold as early as 4am to prepare themselves for another school day.
Since daylight saving started last month, students leave the village at 4:45am to walk for about two and half kilometres to the nearest bus stop to catch the 6am bus to school.
While it is perceived to be a challenging practice, parents have not grown weary of walking their children in the dark as they struggle to provide education for them.
Vocational student Ulamila Dimaitaveuni, 18, said it was really difficult for her to walk every morning because she usually felt sleepy in class.
"This has been a practice for me in the past seven years and it's normal to me since there is no transport in the village to take us to school," she said.
"I only wish that relevant authorities look into our plight and help us as most of us have dropped out from school because they can't take it anymore."
Village headman Timoci Kalouvou said it was a trend for them to walk their children every morning because hardly any transport was available in the area.
"Even kindergarten and Class One students in the village have to walk for at least one hour to reach the bus stop and this is the case every school day," he said.