St John’s College students in Cawaci, Ovalau could return to their school sooner than expected.
Rebuilding efforts by the school’s management has resulted in the rehabilitation of the school’s Sisters convent and dining hall for female students.
St John’s College principal Father Ekuasi Manu said the repair works to the buildings should enable their senior girls to return to Ovalau next week.
“It was great to see the boys working with passion and pride as they help to rewrite the history of Cawaci,” he said.
“Perhaps this should give a strong message to Fiji nationwide that we have to kick start our own rebuilding while awaiting any form of assistance.”
The senior girls have been attending classes at Saint Thomas High School in Lautoka following damage to their institution by Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston.
The education sector on Ovalau and Motoriki had sustained a 5 million dollar loss.
This was confirmed to the Fiji Sun by the education officer Ovalau and Moturiki, Susana Mataitoga.
She said most of the schools were completely damaged.
The prime minister of Fiji Voreqe Bainimarama said that tents would be first supplied to damaged schools to use as classrooms.
He has urged all evacuees to clean up the schools properly when they moved out.
At St John’s College Year 12 and 13 students now back at school while students from the lower stream are attending classes at Papas, Nabua.
Speaking to the students at Cawaci Bainimarama assured them that repair work would be carried out.
St John’s College is one of Fiji’s oldest Catholic mission school.
It is located in Cawaci, on the island of Ovalau, in the province of Lomaiviti, Fiji.
It is is a co-educational boarding school.
It also accepts non-Catholic students.
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