MINISTRY OF INFORMATION FIJI NEWS SUMMARY 20/05/14 5:00PM  

 

 

1. NATIONAL SPORTS DAY TO BENEFIT ALL – Fiji will be able to celebrate a sports holiday from 2015 to recognise the value of contribution sports has made towards national development.

2. TRASH TO CASH TRAINING FOR YOUTHS – The Ministry of Youth is conducting a ‘Plastic Trash Recycling’ training for youths from several rural youth clubs in the Central Division this week.

3. GOVERNMENT ROADSHOW MOVES TO NAITASIRI – As part of continuous efforts to bridge the “public to government” divide, the Ministry of Rural & Maritime Development is organising its second Government Roadshow for this year to be held in Laselevu, Naitasiri.

4. EDUCATION MINISTRY CONTINUES FREE EDUCATION GRANT TRAINING – The Ministry of Education is training all school heads and management on the utilization of Government’s free education grant in the second term of school.

1. NATIONAL SPORTS DAY TO BENEFIT ALL

Fiji will be able to celebrate a sports holiday from 2015 to recognise the value of contribution sports has made towards national development.

Minister for Youth and Sports, Viliame Naupoto said, “Government recognises the value of sports to this nation and the immense contribution our sportsmen and women have made.”

“It also recognises that sport is an effective agent for unity and social change and it also helps build the characters of our young populace.”

Mr Naupoto added that the day is to encourage national participation from all ages, genders and races through sports across all sectors in society. It encourages maximum participation by everyone.

“The sports public holiday will also augur well with our fight against Non-Communicable Diseases and will contribute towards building a healthy nation,” Minister Naupoto said.

He added that it would be a fitting day to remember and celebrate the lives of our national sporting heroes.

Cabinet has approved, in principle, a National Sports Day – public holiday, as part of the approved 10 days gazetted as public holidays for next year.

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2. TRASH TO CASH TRAINING FOR YOUTHS

The Ministry of Youth is conducting a ‘Plastic Trash Recycling’ training for youths from several rural youth clubs in the Central Division this week.

The training is a partnership between the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Catholics Women’s League of Fiji.

The training, which was opened by the Ministry of Youth and Sports permanent secretary, Josefa Sania, is an initiative of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia and has been popular among women in Fiji for the past four years.

Mr Sania said the training aims to push young people to appreciate what’s considered trash and create from them products that could be converted or earn you descent cash.

“You will be forced to maximize your ability to create something out of nothing. We challenge you to go collect those trashes and earn your cash. You will not only earn cash but will also be doing a great favour to our environment,” Mr Sania told the participants.

Leader of the five member team of facilitators at the week-long training, Mere Moceituba said the training was brought by Sister Anna Wicker, a Catholic nun from Indonesia, who has also taught the women of the St Vincent de Paul Parish in Nausori.

“We have been to almost everywhere in Viti Levu and conducted training with women’s clubs since it is popular among women here,” Ms Moceituba said.

“We have been recognised by the Indonesian Embassy as trainers and facilitators of this training and they will send us to any place when such training is requested.

“We are looking forward to teaching the youths this week and I believe they have the advantage over older women as they will learn very quickly. They are very creative as well,” she added.

The training will end this Friday with a display of products produced during the week-long training.

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3. GOVERNMENT ROADSHOW MOVES TO NAITASIRI

As part of continuous efforts to bridge the “public to government” divide, the Ministry of Rural & Maritime Development is organising its second Government Roadshow for this year to be held in Laselevu, Naitasiri.

The ministry’s permanent secretary, Filipe Alifereti said the event was introduced to create awareness in rural communities about the types and avenues of assistance available to them from government agencies, departments and the private sector.

“It will also provide an opportunity for agencies to present, share and inform rural people on the type of assistance available for them to improve rural livelihood,” Mr Alifereti said.

“People in Naitasiri and those who will be present at the Wainimala Secondary School ground will have the luxury of accessing services from the comfort of their homes instead of traveling to Nausori or Suva – saving time and money.”

Mr Alifereti is encouraging Fijians living near Laselevu and in the greater Naitaisiri area to come out in numbers to Wainimala School Ground, where government ministries and departments will have booths displaying their services and interact with members of the public.

The roadshow will be held from May 28 to 29, 2014.

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4. EDUCATION MINISTRY CONTINUES FREE EDUCATION GRANT TRAINING

The Ministry of Education is training all school heads and management on the utilization of Government’s free education grant in the second term of school.

This was the highlight of the day long ‘Free Education Grant Workshop’ for principal education officers (PEO’s) at Marela House this week.

PEO’s taking up their leadership roles in the nine districts were reminded that the grant was solely for the purpose of facilitating learning and teaching in schools and the criteria for usage of funds must be met as allocated in percentages.

This training also serves to equip school heads and managements with clearly defined roles as administrators of funds and the risk factors involved when dealing with finance.

Primary and secondary education deputy secretary, Basundra Kumar said any changes to school managements must be communicated to the Ministry without delay.

“The free education grants shall not be donated, loaned or borrowed by any person or organization,” Mrs Kumar said.

“Discrepancies identified by auditors may prompt the permanent secretary for Education to institute disciplinary action or legal proceedings against the school or individuals implicated,” she added.

It is mandatory for all school heads, managers and treasurers receiving this grant to attend the scheduled training within their districts as discussed in the workshop.

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