Lautoka School For Special Education

07/03/2026

On this International Women’s Day, we celebrate the life of incredible women of Lautoka School for Special Education—our teachers, staff, mothers, and supporters.
Your strength, patience, and compassion help shape the lives of our special students every day. Thank you for your dedication and for making our school a place of care, inclusion, and inspiration.

Happy International Women’s Day! 💜🌺

20/02/2026

2026 Prefect Induction Ceremony 🎓✨

The 2026 Prefect Induction was successfully conducted, marking a proud and memorable milestone for our school community. We congratulate our newly appointed student leaders who have pledged to serve with commitment, integrity, and responsibility.

As they step into their new roles, may they lead by example, inspire their peers, and uphold the values and vision of our school. As a special education school, we are proud to nurture leaders who advocate for inclusion, respect diversity, and promote equal opportunities for all. True leadership means standing up for accessibility, acceptance, and the rights of every individual, regardless of ability.

"Leadership is not about a title or a badge, it is about action and example."
"Inclusion is not a privilege; it is a right."
"True leaders don’t create followers, they create more leaders."

We wish our 2026 Prefects all the very best as they begin the important journey of service, advocacy, and leadership. 🌟

11/02/2026

Community Support Leads to Safe Recovery of Student – Call for Respect and Understanding.

The Management and staff of Lautoka School for Special Education (LSSE) confirm that, by God’s grace and through the collective efforts of the community, student Jonathan Hoyte was safely located on the same day following an unfortunate transport-related incident.

LSSE extends its sincere gratitude to members of the public, parents, guardians, community leaders, and social media users who assisted in sharing information, offering prayers, and supporting the search despite challenging weather conditions. The cooperation and compassion shown during this time reflect the strength of community solidarity in safeguarding the wellbeing of children.

The school also acknowledges and thanks a kind and compassionate family in Nadi, who ensured Jonathan was safe, fed, and immediately contacted the Head of School. Their timely action brought immense relief to the family and school community. Appreciation is also extended to the families, villagers, and individuals who joined the search efforts.

While the incident has concluded safely, LSSE wishes to address certain public commentary that arose during this period. The school urges the public to exercise care and responsibility in the language used when discussing children with disabilities. Derogatory and outdated terms such as “mad,” “handicapped,” or “crippled” are harmful, unethical, and inconsistent with the values of an inclusive society.

The school further notes that conclusions drawn without full understanding of circumstances can cause distress to families and to educators who work daily with vulnerable children. LSSE has established arrival, supervision, and departure procedures, and the school remains committed to reviewing and strengthening systems where necessary. The school also welcomes dialogue with parents and guardians, who are best placed to speak on the dedication and vigilance of staff.

This statement is issued not only on behalf of LSSE, but also in advocacy for all Special Schools across Fiji. Special educators and support staff carry responsibilities that extend beyond standard teaching roles, providing care, supervision, protection, and emotional support—often with limited recognition. Despite this, they continue to serve with professionalism, compassion, and commitment.

LSSE respectfully calls on the public to promote empathy, understanding, and constructive dialogue when engaging in public discourse. Words have impact, particularly on families and educators serving children with disabilities.

The school once again thanks all those who assisted, prayed, and supported the safe outcome of this incident and encourages the public to continue supporting inclusive education throughout Fiji.

With Many Thanks – Vinaka !

Ministry of Education FIJI, Westcosie Fiji, Western Council of Special and Inclusive Educators,

10/02/2026

Thank you so much everyone for your support, concern, and guidance.

We are grateful to inform you that the child (Jonathan Hoyte) has been found safe. Your assistance and prayers are truly appreciated.

Vinaka vakalevu and Thank you once again.

31/12/2025

Happy New Year! ✨
Wishing you a year filled with peace, strength, good health, and new beginnings. May 2026 bring you happiness, success, and many reasons to smile 🌸

12/12/2025

08/12/2025

03/12/2025

In celebration of the, 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities, themed “Fostering Disability-Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress,” our school led an awareness and advocacy session at the Koroipita community. Two of our dedicated staff also shared their empowering and inspirational journeys.
“Inclusion is not just a policy—it is a commitment to seeing ability in every individual.”

03/12/2025

Advocacy & Awareness Speech for IDPWD 2025
Theme: “Fostering Disability-Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress”
Presented by: HOS Lautoka School for Special Education at Koroipita Community, Lautoka on 3rd December, 2025.

Bula Vinaka and a warm greeting to you all.

Today, as we gather here at Koroipita Community, we join millions around the world to celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2025. This year’s theme — “Fostering Disability-Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress” — is not just a message. It is a call to action. A call to every home, every community, every leader, and every heart.

A truly inclusive society is not built in government boardrooms or international conferences alone. It begins right here — in our communities, in the way we treat one another, in the opportunities we create, and in the dignity we give to every person.

Today, we stand together to raise awareness of disability not as a limitation, but as a powerful reminder of our shared humanity. Persons with disabilities are students, workers, leaders, artists, parents, innovators, and dreamers. They are not asking for privilege — they are asking for fairness. Not special treatment — but equal opportunity. Not sympathy — but support and respect.

At Lautoka School for Special Education, we see every day what inclusion can do.
When a child is supported, they thrive.
When a family is empowered, they become strong.
When a community is aware, it becomes safe and welcoming.

But when society excludes… talent is lost, dreams are cut short, and progress slows down.

Inclusion is not only the right thing to do — it is the smart thing to do.
When persons with disabilities are included in education, work, sports, and community life, the whole nation moves forward. Fiji becomes stronger. Our voices become louder. Our future becomes brighter.

So today, let us make a commitment — as parents, neighbours, teachers, youth, and leaders:
• To see ability before disability
• To speak up against stigma and discrimination
• To ensure every child and adult with a disability is valued, supported, and included
• To open doors — in schools, workplaces, and communities — that for too long have remained closed

As we celebrate IDPWD 2025, may we remember this truth:
Inclusion is not an act of charity. It is an act of justice.
And a just society is the foundation of true social progress.

Vinaka vakalevu, and thank you Koroipita Community for standing with us today.
Together, let us continue building a Fiji where everyone belongs, everyone contributes, and no one is left behind.
Western Council of Special and Inclusive Educators, Ministry of Education FIJI, Fiji National Sports Commission, Frank Hilton Organization Fiji, Master Kailash Pillay, Special Olympics Fiji, Rotary Club Papatoetoe Central, Westcosie Fiji, @

02/12/2025

28/11/2025

Big shout out to our new rising fans!

Gina Peters

27/11/2025

Dear Ms. Singh of Canada and the wider community (especially those who made negative comments in the LAUTOKA INTERNATIONAL (Home that unites all Lautokans, wherever they live) page,

We have become aware of this post and the subsequent discussion, and we first and foremost want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your incredibly kind gesture and generous donation to our students. Your desire to bring joy to our children during your visit on the 15th of October, 2025, all the way from Canada is deeply appreciated.

We are writing to provide clarity and address the concerns that have been raised.

To confirm the details, our admin officer received approximately 35 pieces of chocolates/candies from you, Ms. Singh. We sincerely thank you for this gift. However, as a Health Promoting School, our policy strictly limits the distribution of cakes, ice cream, chocolates, and other sugary snacks to our students to protect their well-being. Upon your kind insistence, our officer accepted the donation. As both the Head of School (HOS) and Assistant Head Teacher (AHT) were on leave that day, the distribution was held until the next day to seek the necessary approval.

Given our total school roll of 212 students, and to be fair with the limited quantity, the HOS approved the distribution to our Pre-Primary (Kindy) class, which has a roll of 34 students. On that day, two students were absent, so the 33 present Kindy students each received a treat. The two remaining candies were then given to two 9-year-old students in our LFL (Learning for Life) class. (Refer to our attached School Class Structure)

We can assure you that every single piece was given directly to the children. Our staff are dedicated professionals who treat every student with respect and love; the integrity of our team is built on years of selfless service, and we have evidence from our teachers that this distribution took place exactly as described.

Sometimes, looking at our special kids and their pure desire for a treat, we make careful exceptions. Seeing the smile on their faces is a blessing from these innocent children, and we would never want to deny a donor's kindness brought to our doorstep with love. However, for those who inquire beforehand, we always humbly advise them of our HPS policy and suggest wonderful alternatives like fruits and healthy snacks, which are always welcomed.

Regarding the photos, we must sincerely apologise for this misunderstanding. To protect the privacy and safety of our vulnerable students, we have a strict policy against taking or distributing photographs without explicit parental consent. We are truly sorry that we were unable to fulfill this specific request, and we regret any distress this has caused. It was never our intention to ignore you; we were bound by our duty of care.

Reading some of the comments has been profoundly disheartening for our entire team. This situation highlights why we need to advocate more for children with disabilities. A special school like ours is not just a building; it is a tailor-made ecosystem designed to suit every student's learning and daily needs. Our teachers and staff are caregivers, nurses, and champions for our 212 students, aged 4 to 29. They perform tasks from changing diapers to delivering a tailored education, all while innovating to create paths to independence.

Through our Work Ready Program, we are creating employment opportunities for our senior students (18-30 years).
• Our "Home Therapy" Class serves 46 students with severe physical challenges from communities as far as Tavua and Sigatoka, who had never been to school before.
• Our boarding facility cares for students from distant locations, ensuring they receive the specialized education they deserve.

For this one, small misunderstanding—where we were upholding our child protection and health policies—to result in the defamation of our school is truly saddening. It overlooks decades of silent sacrifice and dedication.

We once again apologise for not being able to meet your condition of providing photographs. Your generosity was, and is, valued. The next time you are in Fiji, we would be honoured to welcome you to our school personally to see the impactful work we do.

We hope for your understanding and continued support in advocating for the rights and abilities of children with disabilities.

With respect and gratitude,

HEAD OF SCHOOL
Lautoka School for Special Education