Director of M & M’s Day-care, Ms. Kavita Mani,
Invited guests and friends of M & M’s Day-care,
Parents,
Girls and Boys,
Good Morning Ladies, Gentlemen and most importantly, the girls and boys who are graduating from Minions & Maui’s Day-care – today is indeed a very special day!
Today is about the children sitting on stage today. “Don’t they look brilliant”? I think they deserve a round of applause before we start.
I know it is difficult to sit still for a long while — so I promise that I will try and keep my speech as short as possible.
As parents and teachers, we put a lot of time and energy into preparing our children for their future – and rightly so, I say this as a proud parent myself.
We need to equip our children with lasting skills to prepare them for early childhood, and eventually adulthood and everyday life. It is our collective responsibility to guide and mould them — for it is on them that the future depends.
That is why the Fijian Constitution ensures the right to education for every person in early childhood, primary and secondary education and further education.
The Fijian Government wants to ensure resources to achieve this right is available “at no cost” to everyone and enable the education for persons who were unable to complete their primary and secondary education.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Our next generations will face a much faster changing world than what we had experienced as children. They have experienced a once is a lifetime occurrence, that is COVID-19. They will see a much changed world that is dominated by information technology. The growth of a knowledge-based economy is leading the change, especially after the pandemic.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The foundation of our economy rests on education. And I strongly believe that. When we educate our people, we grow and nurture them to the point they begin contributing to the economy and all other sectors.
Simply put, by educating your people, you are securing your future.
I was fortunate enough to have been raised in a family that always prioritised my education and that of my brothers and sisters. My mom especially was a strong advocate. There are many stories of my childhood and my journey through my school life that I tell you. But there is definitely one thing I want you all to remember – learning is not a burden – it is fun.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today, as we congratulate the young ladies and gentlemen of tomorrow, we know that they have made a start on their remarkable journey towards achieving this goal. You all have seen them grow and develop.
They have learned so much, remained eager and enthusiastic despite the pandemic. I must thank all the teachers and parents for the fantastic role that you have all played to facilitate this process adapting to the new normal.
As teachers, your roles are absolutely important. You don’t only teach them the basics of numbers and alphabets but life-long values such as how to share, when to say please and thank you, why to respect your parents and your peers. When you inculcate these values in children, they practice it outside the classroom too.
For you parents, please continue encouraging and supporting your children’s learning. Actively participate in their school activities. They need your time and attention more, especially at this tender age. Our children are the key to a better and peaceful nation, if they are taught well.
Now, girls and boys, we are very proud of you!
You are all really special people today – and have all worked very hard to learn and make new friends and be a good friend too.
Well done and congratulations to each and every one of you, for your achievements this year.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Our young children will move into a new year with new challenges and new opportunities. So, as they move into their respective tomorrows – bright with goals already achieved and more dreams still to aspire to – we must be actively involved in this transition.
As parents, it is our duty to be as involved in this important phase of our children’s lives, they are our future and it remains our untold responsibility. This is important because we have to realise there are parents, just like us, out there in the world – only they don’t have the opportunity or means to send their kids to school.
Girls and boys, keeping my promise, I will end my speech now, and once again congratulate you on your graduation.
Vinaka Vakalevu and Thank you.