State to remove religious tags from schools
Wednesday August 29, 2007

Fiji's interim Education Minister Netani Sukanaivalu says they have started talks with various school stakeholders to remove religious tags from the schools in order to encourage multi-racialism.

Sukanaivalu told Fijilive that most of the schools have given the interim regime their support.

"We have started preliminary discussions with the stakeholders," he said.

"Most of the Fijian and Indian schools are in favour".

Sukanaivalu said that with the three languages (Hindi, English and Fijian) made compulsory in schools from next year, it will only be appropriate that the religious connotations are removed.

He added that schools like Queen Victoria, Adi Cakobau and Ratu Kadavulevu Schools will also include more Indian students from next year.

"This will promote multi-racialism," he said.

The Methodist Church of Fiji meanwhile says religious connotations of schools run by various religious bodies should not be removed.

Reverend James Bhagwan says that school names like Suva Methodist, Suva Sangam, Suva Christian, Suva Muslim and others should not change because history is imprinted in these names

"There is heritage involved in these names so to just call it a tag and remove it because of its religious background is a very na?ve call," he said.