It has come to light that students find it easier to understand things when it is taught to them in their vernacular language and then translated in English.

Education Minister Filipe Bole said that curriculum officers have found that the literacy and numeracy strategies that they were conducting in their FILNA workshops have worked well with students when taught in vernacular.

Bole said that Fijian speakers, who first learned the concepts in vernacular, grasp the lessons easily when explained later in English.

He said that Hindi and Rotuman language speakers are also working on using the same strategy with their students.

He said the teachers who did not participate in the workshops are also using the same strategy and feedback from schools show marked improvement in the students work.

The ministry had this year decided to have research and trial conducted in 60 schools to improve the literacy and numeracy performance of students.