NAVATUSILA PROGRESSIVE DEVELOPMENT - by The Fiji Times News Ltd

Education Minister Filibole Bole at the back during the official opening of the new facilities for the school

THE completion of the Thomas Baker Memorial School in Nanoko is the best thing that has happened to the people of Navatusila.

The people of Navatusila have seen no major development in their district since their ancestors killed Methodist missionary Reverend Thomas Baker in 1874.
At a time when cannabalism was still practised, the villagers believed that the descendants of the village have been cursed for slaying and eating God's man.

So the opening of the four-classroom block worth $200,000 and funded by the Government is a blessing for the tikina.

Nanoko villager and school head teacher, Savenaca Tuikubulau said the school was the answer to their prayers. Mr Tuikubulau, a former head teacher of Navatusila District School and now heading Nalotawa District School, said more of their children would now be educated. "There's only a few educated Navatusila people around, so the school is going to help increase that," he said.

Mr Tuikubulau believes the district needs more educated people to help develop the area.

"There had been no development here," he said, adding education would help elevate the standard of living there.

"People here find it hard to send their children to secondary school because we hardly have any relatives in urban areas."

Acting principal Solomoni Ratuloaloa said the school was an achievement for the villagers.

Mr Ratuloaloa saidnot only children from the tikina but those from neighbouring villagers would be legible for enrolment.

"At the moment, the 17 students and four teachers are still using two classrooms at Navatusila District School," he said.

There are nine male and seven females in forms three and four.

Emhasis Healing the Land Ministry
For those who may not know, Navatusila is the district where the Healing the Land ministry ministered and facilitate the reconciliation between the descendants of the late Rev Thomas Baker (whom the people of the area killed)and it's people in 2003.