CENTRAL Malaita students studying at the University of South Pacific (USP) Laucala campus in Fiji are planning to conduct education awareness talks for schools back in their villages during their Christmas holiday.
A member of the Central Malaita Students Association (CMSA) at USP, Feto Fiumae disclosed this to the Solomon Star.
“We are planning these awareness talks for schools back in our villages,” Mr Fiumae said.
He explained that their association consisted of students from Kwara’ae, Kwaio and Langalanga studying in Fiji.
Mr Fiumae said the aim of their awareness programme is to inform students from schools in central Malaita about what it’s like when they go to universities in places like Fiji.
“According to our findings, students from central Kwara’ae need to pull up their socks if they are to meet the high standards of studying here,” he added said.
“One of the main subjects that students need to focus on while in secondary schools at home is English.
“We have found out from experience that during our class discussions here at USP, we have not participated much due to our lack of confidence in speaking English.
“It is these types of experience that we wish to share with our students back home to prepare them when they go to university.
“We felt very strongly that the responsibility of educating our students is upon our shoulders.”
Mr Fiumae further stated that already, they have seen a drop in the standard of our education.
“Therefore, we want to take this initiative at least to prepare our students to compete out there in the world.”
He added that in east Kwara’ae, they will be visiting Faumamanu Community High school, Kwaiafa Community High School, Namoia Secondary School and others.
Mr Fiumae said this is the first time they are going to do the awareness programme, and if it works well, it’ll become an annual event.
A teacher from Faumamanu Community High, Mathew Gereniu, has welcomed the initiative.
“I believe such an initiative will help improve the learning of students at schools in central Malaita,” Mr Gereniu said.
“We want that programme to become an annual event,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mr Fiumae said their members from Langalanga have already identified schools they’ll be visiting during the Christmas holiday.
He appealed to the schools mentioned above to prepare for their visit.
By LESLEY SANGA
