History of Sangam Schools

History of Sangam Schools in Fiji

BA SANGAM SCHOOL

The Ba Sangam School was founded in 1929. The C.S.R Company donated five acres of cane land which stretched from Market shopping complex towards the new market. The school, a three classroom wooden and iron building was built on the sport where the market milk bar stands today. The present bus station area was utilized as the school play ground. The Teachers Quarters was where the present bus station toilet block is built.

In the year 1931 Fiji experienced a most devastating cyclone and flood. During the dark night of 22^nd February 1931 the school building and the quarters were completely washed away. The first Head teacher of this school was Mr. Kunji Bihari and the Assistant Teacher was Mr. Rangaswamy Iyer.

After a break of a few years the C.S.R Company again donated a site which was the highest spot of ground in the vicinity of the Ba Town. The school building constructed according to the Company’s plans assumed the shape of a C.S.R bungalow. The first Head Master at this school was Mr. Y. K. Naidu. The school opened with a roll of 26 boys and 6 girls. This beautiful school enjoyed an enviable reputation over a period of some forty years or so not only in Ba itself but throughout Fiji. Regrettably the school was forced out of the area. Which was just behind late Dr. Yusuf’s residence? It was an unfortunate decision on the part of the town-planners as one of the most important educational centres and consequently been relegated to a sight which, comparatively is not so suitable.

The present school area is built on about eight acres of land. We have today a college, a primary school, a kindergarten and a school for Disabled Children.

COQELOA SANGAM SCHOOL

The classes commenced on 3/2/69 with 49 children and one teacher. The dawn of this hardwork resulted in a temporary resulted in a temporary shed type school which was officially declared open by late Mr. ram Reddy the founder of Cogeloa school. In 1970 when the SPSM LTD surrendered its land NLTB Mr. Shiu Narayan approached the NLTB for the school site which had a bungalow occupied by the Europeans. On 2/2/72 the school committee together with the co-operation of the staff, parents and the community of Cogeloa and not forgetting Mr. Samser Kutty the school organized a historical bazaar and collected $400-00 this money was later used to grade the hill top by Mr. Malkit Singh for the school quarters and new classrooms. Later Late Mr. Subarmani Basawaiya drew the plan for the new building.

On 27/6/74 the construction of the new classrooms began by Mr. Shiu Narayan & Co. Ltd. The foundation of this building was laid by the late Mr. Abbu Tata. On 12/9/72 classes 3 & 4 and 5 & 6 started in the new building. We pay homage to Mr. Barmaiya who was the supervisor of the above building while under contraction. As the development of the school progressed demands for places increased thus additional classrooms were built by 24/8/84. Due to cyclone “ Martin” the roofs of classrooms and staffroom were blown away on 12/4/86. In the year 1990the last two classrooms were completed. Today we have eight classrooms two offices, a good size playing field for our children and other educational facilities for better education. Since 1969 to date with the fullest co-operation of the school management and the teachers the development of the school has been many.

DREKET SANGAM SCHOOL

A timber and iron building was built in 1942. In 1947 the school was registered and Mr. K. Kuppuswamy as the head teacher. The number increased to 44.

In 1958 another classroom was added. From 1959 – 1969 two wooden quarters were built. In 1970 head teachers’ concrete quarters was built. On 13/8/1975 foundation for new classrooms was laid. From 1976 – 1985 the number increased to 126. in 1985 two new classrooms with a office was built. In 1988 a concrete toilet block was built by the Shree Krishna Leela committee. The school celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 1997.

Now there are five classrooms, an office a good playing field both for girls and boys, tow concrete quarters, concrete toilet block with other facilities for modern and better education. The teaching of Tamil was introduced in 1984with a full time Tamil teacher.

KORONUBU SANGAM SCHOOL

The Koronubu Sangam School situated at Koronubu about 8 miles from Ba town, has been established in 1953. The people who contributed with dedication to the establishment of this school were late Antony Sirdar, Late Chinnaiya Naicker, Late Karpuriyan, Late Murugan, Late Mullawan Sirdar, Late Kadasami Pillay and late Armugam Naicker. Although these dedicated founders are not amongst us today, the general public involved in this institution pays hearty tribute to their dedication.

LABASA SANGAM PRIMARY SCHOOL

The school a bure type was officially declared opened by the Manager of CSR Company Limited, Labasa, Mr. G R Robertson on 14^th February, 1944 at 10.00 am in the midst of interested parents and well-wishers.

Struggle to improve the school premises and compound kept on 12/1/47 in an extra General meeting of the school, the management unanimously passed a resolution to have classes 1-8.

It was during Mr. Sologar’s period as head master that the school building programme increased. When he left Mr. Ganagadharam Reddy continued with the extension and worked hand in hand with the committee to make various developments. This is the largest primary school for the Sangam organization in the North.

LOVU SANGAM SCHOOL

In 1932 some of the South Indians banded together to build a school to promote South Indian Culture and Languages. Some of these leading members of the community were:

Messers: Mr. M. N Naidu, Mr. Arunachallam Pillay, Amas Gounden, Mr. Ranjanna Sirdar, Mr. Ross Reddy, Mr. Ayapp Reddy, Mr. Raman Nair, Mr. K. Naicker, Mr. Fakir Watiar, Mr. Nukadu, Mr. Madan Naiker, Mr. Arumugam Pujari, Mr. Pot Raju, Mr. Sami Naidu, Mr. Muttan. Mr. Tambi, Mr. Murti Pillay, Mr. Choy, Mr. Sada Siwan and Mr. Kasim Sahib.

The urge for education promoted the south Indian Public of Lovu, Vitogo, Drasa and Lautoka Town to contribute freely, the result was a school built at Lovu. This was a beginning of Lovu Sangam School.

On 1^st August, 1933 first lot of pupils were enrolled. By the end of the month there were 125 children mostly boys and few girls. As the years passed roll grew and today the roll is 613.

NADI SANGAM SCHOOL

As early as 1926 this school was planned out by the Sangam devotees, and it was established by them in 1927.

Then suddenly there came the devastating floods of 1929, which completely washed away the school. Undaunted by the natural calamity brought about by the cyclone and floods, and by the obstructionist policy of the then education department, the Sangam members organized themselves with very great enthusiasm, and wanted to put up this Nadi Sangam School on a sound foundation at a higher level. Then the present school site was made available by some of the members of the Sangam, a strong school committee got busy in collecting necessary funds. Today it is the largest Primary School of the TISI and hopefully the biggest in the west with over a 1000 children.

NADRALA SANGAM SCHOOL

Mr. Govind Pillay who very generously donated five (5) acres of his cane land for the purpose of building a school.

At first a bure was erected and the children began to attend this private school. Their sincere efforts were rewarded towards the end of 1961. As a result the school finally opened for classes on 6^th February, 1962.

Today the school has three classroom concrete building and two teachers’ quarters. Since it has become a feeder school for Kavanagasau Junior Secondary School, it caters for education upto class 6 only.

NADROGA SANGAM SCHOOL

The 5 acres of land was donated by the late Mr. Rabhbir of Malaqereqere to establish Nadroga Sangam School at Malaqereqere. It was established in the year 1952.

NALOVO SANGAM SCHOOL

It began in 1967 when a group of citizens discussed and built a bure school. It started with evening classes to provide quality education to our children. Late Mr. & Mrs. Validan Achari generously donated two acres of land on the school is today.

UCIWAI SANGAM SCHOOL

The building of the bure school started in 1939 and because of many obstacles the school was completed and formally opened by Swami Rudrananda on 28^th February, 1941.

Concrete Building
In 1954 the amount deposited at the Sangam Head Office went upto 2332. At the Annual General Meeting held on 28^th February, 1954 it was decided to use the amount for the erection of the concrete building for the school.

VATUYAKA SANGAM SCHOOL

In 1939 a small bure school was built at Vatuyaka in the land donated by the late Mr. Gandan of Vatuyaka. Only Tamil was taught at the school. In 1940 this school was recognized by the Government.

In 1952 the school was destroyed by cyclone the school could not be revived.

Mr. Penchalu of Vatuyaka donated $1600 cash to put up a new timber and iron school. The committee and other prominent residents such as Permal Sardar, Govind Raju, Permal, Lachmaiya, Marimuttu, Subarmani, late Mr. Gangan, Changalrayan and other member helped in raising funds and worked hard to register this school as Nadari Sangam School of Vatuyaka built a school of timber and iron.

VUNISAMALOA SANGAM SCHOOL

In 1935 a wood and iron school (18’ x 20’) was built in Vunisamaloa, Ba. Some of the prominent and active members who worked hard to build this school were Messrs. Murgappa Reddy, Pon Swamy Iyer, Changan Murugan, Vellapadayachi, Desan, Guru Swamy Bhaktar and Nur Mohammed.

In 1953 the old school was demolished and a modern wood and iron school was built. In 1956 the school was extended by another 50’ with the help of Government grant and the funds raised by the committee.

In 1970 the school was burnt to ashes. The committee put up a temporary open shed for classes. The south pacific sugar mills limited, Rarawai, Ba gave a 50’ x 20’ barrack for a nominal value of $200-00. This was utilized to build a new school. In May 1972 a two story concrete block building with 4 class rooms a library and an office began taking shape. The building was nearing completion when disaster struck again. The hurricane Bebe blew away the reconstructed wooden building. Two teachers’ quarters were vacated and the classes continued. The new concrete school building was made available for occupation in February 1973.

BA SANGAM COLLEGE

Ba Sangam College was established on 15 May 1957 amidst heated opposition form the members of the Central Board of the TISI Sangam. The school started during the second term with 2 classes and approximately 49 children.

The first school building was located in Yalalevu in a house rented for this purpose. At the beginning of 1959 the committee decided to shift the building to its present site and the first building was the remodeled, renovated and reconstructed structure which originally was a CSR bungalow and which also served its term as the first southern Indian Sangam School.

LABASA SANGAM (SKM) COLLEGE

This is the first Sangam Educational Institution named the founder, saint and life-long president, Sadhu Kuppuswamji.

On 4^th February 1957 it started as a tutorial class of 20 students with Mr. Augustine Sitaram as the first Principal.

Ministry of Education in Suva and Labasa to stifle the growth and development of the so called “Mushroom” Secondary school. The school committee was ordered to discontinue the classes in primary school building at Tuatua. On account of this intervention the school was shifted to the premises of Hon. James Madhavam (MLC).

1963 heralded the appointment of Mr. Bhaskaran Iyer (Later Swami) as the principal. He had with him a wealth of experience as an educationist in Fiji and India.

The pioneers who were instrumental in building this institution were Later Mr. Valadian Achari, Late Mr. Ram Samy Achari, Late Mr. Moon Samy Goundar, Late Mr. Ram Samy Naicker, Mr. Govind Samy Naicker, Mr. Ventesh Naicker, Mr. Arnalajalam and Venkatajalam Achari.

In 1967 an approval to erect a school was given by the Director of Education. Evening classes were conducted by Mrs. Gangamma Arjun with a roll of 52. in 1969 it was registered as a Primary school No. 3037 on 21^st March.

NASINU SANGAM SCHOOL

Foundation laid by Dr Tupeni Baba, Education Minister, Bavadra Government in April 1987. School opened for classes on 22.01.91. started with Class 1-5. 127 pupils and 4 teachers. 1^st Head Teacher Mr. Kissun S. Krishna, Manager – Mr. Sadasiwan Naicker. Initially started with 4 classrooms 5^th Classroom was initiated through a donation of $1000.00 by Mr. D. Sologar on 22/01/91.

New Toilets Block was inaugurated in 1993 through Australian Aid. Schools was officially opened on 30/04/94 by Acting Prime Minister Ms Taufa Vakatale.

New Extension (8 classrooms) was completed in April 2000. Current School Roll is 390 with 13 staff (10 Civil Servants, 2LT’s, 1 Typist). Commenced 2 streams of class1 and 2 from this year (2001).

NAVOLI SANGAM SCHOOL

The indentured South Indians and their descendants realized that there was pressing need for the education of their children. First formal institution namely Navoli Sangam School was built in 1955. Mr. Veera Sami donated the land for the school. Mr. Govind Watiar laid the foundation. The firs building was made of tin roof and the walls were made of weatherboard. On the completion of the building, Mr. Max Bay of the Education department did the opening.

During the first year the total roll of the school was 47, with 23 girls and 24 boys. From year to year the school roll kept on increasing and the community prospered. In 1991 the school roll reached the maximum of 221 children with civil servant staff, 1 language teacher and a Kindi teacher.

PENANG SANGAM SCHOOL

This institution was established in 1930. in 1931 the school was blown away twice in hurricane. From 1943-56 a wooden building with two classrooms, and three bures were the school buildings.

On 1.3.8/56 Mr. N.S. Chalmers Manager C.S.R Mill Penang laid the foundation stone of the concrete building. Over the years the school grew in strength and today it is the largest in the district.

RAVIRAVI SANGAM SCHOOL

Ravi Ravi Sangam School was established in 1941. the land was donated by Mr. Mun Samy Gounder and Mr. Sami Naidu. Mr. Murgessan Naiker, Mr. Ram Sami Naidu, Mr. Muslaiya, Mr. Vellu Reddy with others imitated to start the school. They started teaching Tamil for about 30-40 children in a bure. Mr. Kirshna Narsaiya was the first head teacher assisted by Mr Samuel Natesan.

The school progressed gradually and now there are 220 children learning Tamil, English, Hindi and Fijian. They have a Kindergarten too.

SABETO SANGAM SCHOOL

IN THE YEAR 1928 THE OFFICIALS OF Sabeto Then India Sanmarga Ikya Sangam got together and built a school to teach their mother tongue languages to their children.

In 1936 the officials of Sabeto T.I.S.I Sangam in close collaboration with the officials of Sabeto Kaniamma Temple built a school at the temple site in Field 5.

The Sabeto Sangam School was established in the year 1950. The new school was declared open Mr. M.J.Bay, the then Education, and Western on 8^th February, 1950.

TAGITAGI SANGAM SCHOOL
A small bure school was built in 1921 about 500 meters west of our present school site. People learnt Tamil and Telugu here also sang bhajans. One must remember this was not a fully fledged school. It was run illegally. The seed of education was sown.

By 1926 Sevakaratnam Sadhu Kuppuswamy and his co- workers had convinced the people here to build a respectable school. Mr. Sanjivi Reddy donated 5 acres of land. He then dismantled his iron wood shop. Mr. Virbadru Mudaliar also donated his iron and wood house. The material of these two houses was used to build our school sometime in 1926.

On 22/5/50 the school re- started legally.

The 1952 Hurricane completely devastated the old iron and wooden building. The people quickly built school and then started raising funds for the new building to be built.

Labasa Sangam (SKM) College had now become a full- fledged college with over 1000 students with all the amenities for the development of students preparing for the real life outside the comforts of the classrooms.

On 2^nd October 1996, Mr. Satendra Deo was appointed the Principal to administer and manage the affairs of this College. This college has now become a household name not only the nation but across the ocean. This is the 47^th year of existence as an educational establishment and all concerned with the welfare of this college are very much humbled by the achievement, progress and developments. Without an iota of doubt the college has reached the very top that any school can aspire for. Legitimately we are the Pride and spirit of Labasa and an institution to be reckoned with.

NADI SECONDARY SCHOOL (SANGAM (SKM) COLLEGE

Nadi secondary School was founded in the year 1958. when Shri Vivekananda High School became the Grant- Aided and had to comply with the conditions that grant –aided secondary schools could not admit ‘Fiji Secondary School Entrance Examination failures.’
Change of Site
At the beginning of third team 1958, Shri Vivekananda High School moved to its present site at Malolo. Nadi Secondary School moved into the premises previously occupied by Shri Vivekananda High School. This premises was on the bank of river belonged to the Nadi Temple Committee. Now Nadi Secondary school grew in religious atmosphere. A form five was introduced to the school in the year 1964. the schools strength increased to about four hundred.
Change of Hand
Nadi Secondary School was handed over to TISI Sangam Central Board by the Nadi Education Society in the year 1967. the school was dedicated to Late Sadhu Kuppuswamy, the founder of the Sangam. The school is grown physically and academically. The other achievement has been starting of the S.I.T by the institution.

PENANG SANGAM HIGH SCHOOL
The concept of building a school was molded by the late Mr. James Madhavan. The school was inaugurated in 1959. Initially there were 36 students .It was gone a long way in providing education to the large community of Raki Raki. The school has grown physically and in numbers too.

SUVA SANGAM HIGH SCHOOL

With growing demand for space in the school from children coming out of Primaryt schools, the committee constructed another three classrooms in 1959. This project was further extended in 1965 with the construction of a two storey building containg a science laboratory a library and twom more classrooms. The foundation for this extension was laid by then High Commissioner of India, Mr Neelkant Sharma.

In 1970 the committee received a grant of $5000 for futher extension. Adding another $15000 another two storey building with two classrooms and a toilet block was added. In 1971 a technical block for woodwork home economics and arts and craft was erected for total cost of $30,000. Of this amount $9800 was received as building grant from Government of Fiji. The Government also provided basic tools and machinery for the workshops.

The increasing demand for space saw more constrution work at the school. In the later part of 1971 a new library block and one more  classroom was constructed for a total cost of $18000 of which $4700 was received from the Government. The construction work ceased in 1977 with the addition of another block consisting of four classrooms funded entirely from Sangam resources. Another block with two additional classrooms, a rew office for the Principal and a larger office space for the staff. Adjacent to the driveway to the school a two story building with 6 rooms had been built to accomodate the home science and other faculties. This was completed in 2006.