The Government has spent more than $250 million on repairing cyclone-damaged schools around Fiji since 2016, says Education Minister Premila Kumar.
She said this in Parliament on Friday in response to a question posed by Opposition Member Simione Rasova who had asked for an update on the reconstruction and rehabilitation of major secondary schools in Kadavu.
“The cost of damage sustained by the three major secondary schools in Kadavu was substantial,” Mrs Kumar said.
She said when Tropical Cyclone Harold hit in April 2020, Richmond High School sustained $1.26 million worth of damage, Vunisea Secondary School $235,000 and Kadavu Provincial almost $1 million.
Mrs Kumar said after assessing the damage, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama had sought the assistance of the Japanese embassy in restoring facilities at all three secondary schools.
“The Japanese embassy had agreed to rehabilitate the facilities by providing funding directly to these secondary schools under the Grassroots Human Security Project.”
She said the embassy provided $597,494 to Richmond High School to build three new concrete classrooms and two concrete ablution blocks.
Mrs Kumar said Vunisea Secondary School received a grant of $558,979 which was used to build two concrete classrooms with a new female dormitory.
The school also provided 20 bunk beds and mattresses, student and teachers’ desks and chairs along with other furniture.
More than $1 million was given to Kadavu Provincial High School to construct two classrooms and dormitories, a new dining hall, and provision of other school furniture.
She said construction at Richmond and Vunisea was completed and the facilities were in use by February 2022.
“As for Kadavu Provincial, there were certain factors that hindered work at the school.
“This included the increase in the price of material and accessing roads was a challenge for the contractors.”
Mrs Kumar said $375,000 was allocated this year by the Economy Ministry to cater for the additional cost in completing rehabilitation works at Kadavu Provincial School.
