FIJI – School students in Fiji are to make eight promises every morning as part of acompulsory nationwide initiative the Ministry of Education hopes will raise national pride, reduce absenteeism, bullying and disruptive behaviour – and even curb unwise sexual activities.

An eight-point National Student’s Pledge, the first of its kind, will be recited by 210,000 Fijian students from Year 6 to Year 13 in schools daily to assist them in understanding “where they are heading in life”.

It was launched by the Ministry of Education at Narere Primary School in Nasinu this week.

Education Minister, Dr Mahendra Reddy, is adamant the pledge will help Fijian students change their attitude towards their academic work so they achieve better results and become better Fijians later in life.

“There are undeniable facts that children nowadays conformed to unwise group attitudes and behaviours that are affecting their core roles in school,” Dr Reddy said.

“The trend of these children’s involvement in risky behaviour has to be halted.”

“As so, this pledge will assist the child to see where they are heading to, are they in the right direction, what changes must they bring to reach the end goals and what are their needs to reach that goal. This pledge becomes an inseparable part of the child’s life.”

The pledge, according to Dr Reddy, ensures that every Fijian child has access to quality education by respecting their parents and the elderly, saying no to drugs, use technology for good purposes and not as a tool to hurt or harm others.

More than 220, 000 copies of the pledge have been printed and will be distributed to all schools throughout Fiji.

The Pledge:

1. I will respect, love and care for my parents, teachers, friends and elders.

2. I will stay healthy through exercise and practice good hygiene.

3. I will stay clean through good thoughts, works and deeds.

4. I will believe in myself through faith in God.

5. I will attend school daily, abide by all school rules and study hard.

6. I will say no to drugs, stay away from bad habits and value my life.

7. I will use technology for good and not as a tool to hurt or harm others.

8. I am a proud Fijian and will make Fiji a nation of peace and progress.

- Fiji Times