Selita Bolanavanua
“I wish I could start studying all over again,” University student Sitiveni Hicks said.
Mr Hicks, a final year Bachelor of Engineering student, made the comment after the launch of free WiFi by the Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum at the Fiji National University on August 7, 2018.
Mr Hicks said that he had spent six years at the University and always faced challenges with the internet speed.
At times, he said, there were no spaces at the computer labs for them to do their projects.
Free Internet access
“Now there will be no excuse at all for the students and the upcoming ones because they have internet access all over the campus, not only here in Samabula but all over Fiji. These students are so fortunate. They have the TELS scheme including all the allowances. They do not have any excuse at all. I wish I could start school again so I can also use these facilities,” he said.
“In my time, we even struggled to get the scholarships,” Mr Hicks added.
Challenge and Initiative
First year student Evelyn Agnes Bakeiyasawa said she was so grateful for the initiative.
“It was always a challenge when it comes to browsing the internet as many of the sites were blocked at the campus. Now we can watch tutorials on YouTube and we can do research from other sites anytime,” she said.
Money has been set aside in the 2018-2019 National Budget to provide free WiFi at all FNU campuses nationwide.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the free WiFi at the University would help students a lot.
He added that the idea was to create zones where young people could come together, share information and be able to communicate with each other.
Meanwhile, the Government has funded Walesi to work with FNU to install high-speed WiFi across 24 campuses under the ‘DigitalFiji’ initiative.
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Photo Caption:
Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum at the National Budget Roadshow at the Fiji National University (FNU) Nasinu Campus
(Photo by Office of the Attorney-General)
