Changing the name of a school will only result in the loss of identity.
Assistant Head Teacher for Draiba Fijian, Luisa Vakarau said the move to have a common name for the citizens of the country is a good initiative but to have names such as Draiba Fijian removed, is not right.
"The names should be kept as they are. Why do we need to have one name when there are different people there? And I’m sure they will be proud to be called what they are – so keep it that way. All the people living here are Fijian. People say that – even our Indo Fijian brothers and sisters – Fiji is our home. So we keep our identity. We still believe that we can live harmoniously even in our differences, is what I’m saying."
Meanwhile, a secondary school which Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna had also set up for the education of local students, Ratu Sir Lala Memorial School Headteacher Akapusi Qio said that before any changes are made there needs to be consultation.
"If they want to change it – it’s their prerogative because they have the authority to do that. But for a lot of us who have found this school to be useful, it will be very difficult with us. But the change in name – I don’t see any problem with that."
