The move by the Ministry of Education to negotiate with the people of Ra for their children to go back to school should be fully supported by the entire Fiji community. For one, it is a far cry from adhering to one of the basic principles of the Convention of Children’s Rights, where they are entitled to be educated and aspire for a highest level of academic attainment.

In a world that is very much challenged by adversities and social ills, one can bank on education, among other things to be a catalyst for a better change. Fiji is no exception where today we witness scores of young people who have been pushed out of the education system through poverty, financial woes, social ills and some for no good enough reasons. The adage that “education is light” and of course this is the very light that illuminates religions to be the “light for those in the dark”. To use religion as an excuse for not letting young people go to school is a blatant disregard for the recognition of humanity in its totality. ECREA would like to stand up for the innocent souls who are powerless and voiceless in airing their concerns for a better future that they well deserve.

The community of this nation at large will be ignoring their social responsibility of empowering our youths and children from rules that dictate otherwise the welfare of these vulnerable ones as in this case, if we are to let this issue go by unchallenged. While Fiji is a nation that embraces diversities in culture, ethnicity and religion, this is a sad situation of how religion has been duly distorted by leaders.

JOSEPH CAMILLO
Executive Director