Labasa Primary School Teacher, Vilikesa Ranatora, is grateful to the Fiji National University (FNU) for its initiative in organising awareness sessions for primary school students.

FNU’s inaugural Primary School Awareness Programme (PSAP) officially commenced in the Central, Western and Northern Divisions today. The University’s team visited a total of 10 schools today, comprising of schools each from Suva, Lautoka and Labasa. The campaign aims to gradually begin creating awareness about the University’s programmes and services.

Ranatora, who has been teaching Year 8 students at Labasa Primary School for almost seven years, said the University had conducted an interactive and engaging session for the primary school students.

Labasa Primary School Teacher, Vilikesa Ranatora.

“This project is overdue. This should have started years back, but we are so thankful to the Fiji National University for organising sessions with primary school students, as this is really where the foundation of learning begins,” Ranatora shared.

“I must say that the initiative has been a very successful vision; it was seen in each students’ eyes, that they wished for the session to last longer.”

“It was well-oriented, and the children really learnt a lot. These sessions gave them an insight on what life would be like at a later stage, and to bring to them this knowledge now will instill habits and developments to realise where they are headed.”

Labasa Primary School Year 8 student and Head Girl Unaisi Lalibuli said the PSAP was very informative.

Labasa Primary School Year 8 student and Head Girl Unaisi Lalibuli.

“The major takeaway from FNU’s visit to my school today was that there are so many different campuses and options available to students,” Lalibuli said.

Rishikul Primary School Head Teacher, Rishi Chand.

Rishikul Primary School Head Teacher, Rishi Chand added that FNU was proactive in playing a key role in creating awareness at the primary learning level.

“FNU’s effort in reaching out to the students is noteworthy and quite commendable, and in my many years of experience, this programme has never filtered down to the primary school students,” Chand said.

“This is the first year that FNU has done something of this nature in primary schools, and I believe that by targeting primary schools, it gives the students an opportunity at an early age to decide how they want their future to look like.”

Lautoka Muslim Primary School Year 8 teacher, Nileshni Dutt said the PSAP was an opportune time to prepare and allow students to think ready about their career paths.

“This is a good time to introduce to the students to start their train of thoughts right from a very young age,” said Dutt.

“The session was very motivating, inciteful, and it actually made the students think about their career paths which many wouldn’t have probably placed a thought to.”

Lautoka Muslim Primary School Year 8 teacher, Nileshni Dutt.

“It was a different feeling for the students, away from their normal hours being in the classroom,” she added.

The University will be visiting identified primary schools throughout the week as part of the awareness programme.

Lautoka Muslim Primary School students listening to FNU Outreach Specialist, Torella Dominiko during her presentation.