STUDENTS of Muainaweni Primary School have for the first time learnt the basics of water safety.
A team from the police special response unit visited the students in Naitasiri last week and took them for a three-hour session in the river beside the school.
Police spokesman Inspector Atunaisa Sokomuri said the water safety session was an effort by the officers serving at the Muainaweni Community Post.
Insp Sokomuri said the officers invited the Fiji Police Force's water safety experts based at the Special Response Unit in Nasinu.
Muainaweni Community Post officer-in-charge Sergeant Trisa Nakaulevu said all students from the school would be given the opportunity to learn the basics of water safety.
"The students were divided into two groups and we started off with the first group of 58 students who enjoyed the afternoon," she said.
"The next group will be given this opportunity on Friday.
"The students really enjoyed the program, especially when it involved real life scenarios."
Sgt Nakaulevu said majority of the students lived beside the river and they crossed it twice a day while attending school.
"Many of them take things for granted while crossing the river but after the exercise, they now know how to deal with the dangers they can face while crossing the river," she said.
The awareness was made possible when Commissioner of Police Brigadier General Ioane Naivalurua and Minister for Defence Joketani Cokanasiga launched a boat to assist police officers serving at Muainaweni.
Sgt Nakaulevu said her officers would construct a new landing at the river banks where the students can properly disembark from the boat.