Going back to school in Fiji

Following George Speight's attempted coup in Fiji in May last Year, the main people to suffer have - been the ordinary workers and the poor. Many people lost their jobs while others had to accept a big reduction in their wages. It has been a time of hardship for many.

Now, at the beginning of the New Year, parents are getting ready to send their children back to school. School fees are to be paid, uniforms procured, books bought, school bags and sandals purchased. But many poorer families are asking where is the money coming from.

Jone has been given a place in a secondary school but his parents have to find $175.00 for school fees and books before he is accepted. There are only a few places available and it is a matter of 'first come, first served', Those who come late or who can't pay will miss out. Frantically Jone's parents ,go from relative to relative to ask for help. They know that, even if they get the entrance money, they will still have to purchase uniforms and pay daily bus fares.

Mere is only nine but she will have to drop out of school this year because her parents can't keep both her and her brother at school. Because he is a boy and is older, he gets preference. Mere will have to help her mother at home and help look after two younger brothers. Maybe she will never get back to school again.

Aliki is seven years old and he is deaf and dumb. He lives in a village on the outskirts of Suva. There is a special school he can go to and it is not very expensive. Someone has offered to pay for his fees and clothes but his parents refused because they are unable to pay the daily bus fare to and from town each day. It is only about 80 cents a day - S4.00 a week - but it is too much. So Aliki has to stay at home and misses out on the opportunity to overcome his disability.

The parents of Tuks and Ana struggle to get them to school each day. They are paying off school fees term by term and friends helped them get uniforms and books. The children have a long walk to school each day but it is not too far. For breakfast each morning they have bread and tea but, when lunch time comes, they have no food. School-friends might share some food with them but mostly they go to afternoon classes feeling hungry and it is hard to learn when you are hungry. It would be great if their school could provide a proper meal for the poorer children.

These are just a few stories of situations that are all too common in Fiji today ( and in many other developing countries also). Education should provide hope for the future for many poor families but being able to get to school is not always easy.

Can YOU help young people like Jone, Mere. Aliki, Tuks and Ana?