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The Gavoka Petition to Government : Review and Rescind decision to transform Nadroga/Navosa Provincial High School into Technical College

15/7/2015

3 Comments

 
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Public Petition for Parliament’s Consideration That the Government Review and Rescind its Decision to Transform Nadroga / Navosa Provincial High School into a Technical College

BACKGROUND

Government’s Policy on Establishment of Technical Colleges in Fiji


·         The Ministry of Education has begun its reforms of Fiji’s tertiary technical education system with the establishment of ten technical colleges around the country in 2016.

·         This new initiative has received an allocation of $7 million to begin work in 2015 and envisaged to improve the quality of technical education in Fiji and to promoting it as an attractive alternative to university study. Government has so far established two technical colleges, one in the North and the other in Nadi.

·         Recently, the Nadroga Provincial Council has indicated the Nadroga/Navosa Provincial High School located in Cuvu, Nadroga will now become a registered technical college as per alignment with Government’s policy on technical colleges.

·         The decision to convert the Nadroga / Navosa Provincial High School into a technical college was made without thorough consultation with impacted stakeholders who are – the parents of students of the school, the students and current teachers, the villagers of Nadroga/Navosa and the faith – based organizations that have provided support to the school over the years.

What will this Change Mean for Nadroga/Navosa Provincial High School:

·         Of critical concern is that this significant change will greatly impact the way of life of indigenous Fijians who have relied on the school for their education needs. Present students are used to the environment, culture, and way of life at the school and will find it hard to adjust to any forced change let alone a new school environment.

·         Majority of the students are from the very remote parts of the Nadroga/Navosa province who experience economic hardships. Faith based organizations currently support parents with the educational needs of students at the school. This support will be foregone if the school is transformed into a technical college and current students have to attend other schools further from the area.

·         Approximately 50-60 student’s board at the school and such significant change will be difficult to adjust to with the risk that this change will result in some of the current students falling out of the education system altogether.

·         Parents will have to pay more to send their children a new school which will further strain finances.

·         Presently, the Ministry of Education has only said it will find schools for the current students.  This is causing great uncertainty with parents, the students, the teachers, and the villagers of Nadroga/Navosa as there is a lack of clarity from the Government and the Ministry of Education as to what will happen next.

WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR: "We the undersigned, strongly disagree with Governments plan to convert Nadroga/Navosa High School into a technical college. We hereby, petition the Parliament of Fiji to direct, according to relevant powers within the Standing Orders, that a relevant committee review the decision to transform Nadroga/Navosa High School into a technical college with the possibility of calling for Government to rescind its decision in this regard.

We would also like the following clarifications to be provided -

·         What is the basis or criteria’s used to select schools/institutions to be used as technical colleges;

·         Where will the 10 technical colleges be located and will these also be located in the maritime islands;

·         What is the socio-economic impact of such change to families and communities impacted by the Ministry’s decision;

·         Who pays for fees of students attending the technical colleges;

·         What is the planned technical college intake per year and will the students be sourced entirely from the Nadroga/Navosa area?

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE YOU SIGN: We would like this petition submitted in Parliament at the July Parliamentary Sitting of 2015 so we request that on collecting all the signatures you send this petition form to the following address in a sealed envelope before or on Friday 3 July, 2015.
                                                         

OPPOSITION CHAMBERS

PARLIAMENT OF FIJI

GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS

SUVA

BY PLACING YOUR SIGNATURE AND DETAILS ON THIS DOCUMENT YOU HAVE READ, UNDERSTOOD AND AGREE TO THE TERMS OF THIS PETTION SET OUT ABOVE AND ALSO THE FOLLOWING:

1.   THAT YOU CONFIRM THAT YOU ARE EITHER 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OVER.

2.   THAT YOU HAVE NOT BEEN COERCED OR FORCED TO PROVIDE YOUR SIGNATURE AND DETAILS THIS PETITION.

3.   THAT STRICTLY NO MONEY OR DONATION IN KIND HAS BEEN OFFERED OR EXCHANGED FOR YOUR SIGNATURE.  PLEASE NOTE: THAT WE, AS A GROUP INITIATING THIS PETITION DO NOT AND WILL NOT CONDONE OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUCH CONDUCT OR LOSSES INCURRED AS A RESULT.

4.   THAT YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE PETITION WAS READ AND/OR EXPLAINED TO YOU IN THE LANGUAGE YOU ARE MOST FAMILIAR WITH.

Name of Signature Collector: ______________________________


Phone Contact:              ______________________________  
For any urgent queries email: [email protected] or [email protected]


 

3 Comments
On Song
15/7/2015 08:52:13 pm

The idea for a Technical College in Sigatoka/Cuvu/Nadroga is one mighty GOOD idea, but most unfortunate the methods used to establish it has given rise to dissent. If this is the main reason for the Petition then i agree because people are now resisting being told to accept whatever the Government dishes out without consultation. Land resources, Fiji flag, destruction of mangroves for industrial development, forced advertisement in the Fiji Sun for all Govt. controlled entities etc. Soon and very soon the people of Rotuma will rise to protect their heritage when Govt. land reforms shifts to that sovereign nation. Ratu Sukuna made an attempt, visited once and he and his Government delegation had to leave the same day before sunset, never to set foot again. People are getting fed up with this blatant abuse of 'power' and those in leadership must have their ears pinned close to the ground lest they miss that hiss before the explosion!!! to Bill Gavoka and his people in Nadroga you need that Technical College for the development of your youths and those still unemployed. The so much missed TPAF technical team, ably led by current Minister for Health, first set up the concept in 2007-2009 for this very purpose. Please grab this opportunity, maintain the status of the High School and work around your resources to blend in the Technical College infrastructure. All school boarders, parents, teachers and students gain twofold - why not a qualified Plumbers Trade Certifictae besides a School Leaving Certificate for a student completing all studies?? Sir, you win endlessly and the vanua of Nadroga Navosa florishes big time!!!!
it is my passion and i share with you all; for only good comes out of this focus on our children that result in gainful employment - much more than any university can produce at any level.

Reply
Litiana Seini
16/7/2015 02:24:58 am

Nadroga Navosa Provincial School is a good choice to open Technical College and I welcome Minister Reddys initiative to open it in my small town Sigatoka. This will really assist the youths to gain proper employment. I think the petition is unfair because the consultation was done with provincial council reps who represent their people. Further if the school committee is ok with the conversion then why the hoo haa from Gavoka and Sodelpa? What has So delpa done for sigatoka since going into parliament. Nothing And Sodelpa will never do anything good for people except criticize even the good work being done.. The existing students can go to Cuvu College which is less than a km away. There are very small number of students in nadroga navosa high school... less than 100 I think. No financial difficulties will be added to parents. Gavoka is only trying dirty politics. Please let the Ministry of education do this good deed to reduce unemployment for my homeland. At least Dr. Reddy is trying.

Reply
Bahuki
19/7/2015 10:35:59 pm

A very good notion by Gavoka on the technical college transformation, looking forward to seeing how this develops further

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