NEWS

Josua, Year 13 Student Excited To Return To School

“I look forward to going back to school to see my friends and teachers, it has been so long then I met my classmates and I look forward to it,” he said.
28 Oct 2021 13:26
Josua, Year 13 Student Excited To Return To School
From left: Marieta Daveta with son Josua Leweni who is excited to return to school.

Year 13 student of Lelean Memorial School, Josua Leweni, is looking forward to returning to school to meet his friends and teachers.

At the time when COVID cases increased  in Fiji, the Ministry of Education, Heritage and Arts had announced schools to remain closed.

Recently Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama announced the reopening of schools for students in Years 12 and 13

Come November 1, Mr Leweni will be amongst the many year 12 and 13 students returning to school.

“I look forward to going back to school to see my friends and teachers, it has been so long then I met my classmates and I look forward to it,” he said.

 

Reopening of schools

His mother, Marieta Daveta, who is a year two teacher at Saint Joseph Primary School, is also looking forward to when the remaining classes reopens.

The year two school teacher has been doing virtual classes with her students and providing educational worksheets.

Ms Daveta said as an educator, it was important to disseminate the right information and knowledge to students.

“I just can’t wait to see my year two children face to face in the year 2022. I will not be able to hug them but hearing their stories is something I look forward to.

“I have seen some of my children through zoom classes. Its challenging for some of the parents because of the lack of resources due to financial constraints. Most of them don’t have gadgets and internet excess.

“I have been making boat trips fortnightly to deliver worksheets and collect. I do zoom classes twice in a week. I upload on the class facebook closed group and messenger. I avail myself for one to one virtual meet if required by parents,” Ms Daveta said.

 

Home activities

While there was a COVID lockdown at the time, Ms Daveta also tutored her children at their home at Nairoro settlement, Naililili in Rewa.

“I dedicate at least one and a half hours per day for studying where the children get their books out, learn their syllables while the older ones use the laptop for live stream school activities.

“I am flexible about their timetable because I understand that this is not a classroom environment so the children are adapting to learning from home. When I’m at home, I switch my role to a parent and not the teacher so that is how I am flexible with the kids,” she said.

 

School preparation

As a parent, Ms Daveta is also preparing her second eldest son to return to school.

She said her children have been engaged in home activities such as gardening during the lockdown period.

“My son is super excited to return to school to catch up with his friends and teachers. It has been a long time for him and he is tired of seeing my face every day so he really looks forward to going back to school.”

“He is looking forward to catching up with his school work and preparing for his final exam before going to tertiary education,” she said.

Once things normalise with school, Ms Daveta plans to get her son enrolled into driving school to learn driving.

Ms Daveta aims to get his son enrolled early to build up his confidence and become more independent.

Feedbacklaiseana.nasiga@fijisun.com.fj

 

 

 

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