About 7,000 students from 25 schools; in the Central, Western and Northern Divisions who were badly affected by the floods will benefit from the Australian Government's assistance to flood-ravaged schools.
Of these 25 schools, 21 are primary schools and 4 are secondary schools.
The Australian Government will provide the Government of Fiji with a total contribution of $A646, 000.
A portion of the funds will assist schools with repairs to damaged infrastructure and teaching and learning resources.
These will include maintenance work on classrooms, teachers' quarters, hostel facilities and ablution blocks.
The funds will be used to replace water tanks, furniture, textbooks, stationery, beddings and other school equipment that was damaged by flood waters.
A second portion of the funding will be utilised for annual levies. These levies are normally paid for by parents, and indeed the offer by AUSAID to pay on behalf of the parents will relieve them of this financial commitment.
This financial contribution from the Government of Australia will be of immense assistance to families that suffered considerable losses caused by the floods.
This would greatly reduce both education costs and the accompanying stress parents have suffered after the hardships caused by the recent floods.
This funding will allow these families to continue to be able to send their children to school.
The Ministry is indeed thankful as the assistance will help considerably in speeding up the rehabilitation process.
The Ministry of Education acknowledges with appreciation the assistance of the Government of Australia as this will effectively allow the restoration of flood affected schools in the best way possible.
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No:o462