The Place of Literary Writings in Fiji’s Education System An Overview of Hindi Writings in Fiji

Abstract

The teaching of vernacular languages or mother tongues in the Pacific island countries is one of the most neglected and vulnerable areas in education. This is borne out by the results of various studies that have been conducted over the past decades on literacy writings in vernacular. To an utter dismay, day by day and year by year, the numbers of Hindi vernacular students have been considerably declining, which is having a direct repercussion on scant publication of local literally writings in Hindi language. This original article will shed some light upon the vernacular teaching and learning of Hindi language, which has a long history in Fiji’s education system. What used to be one’s identity is now treated as a vehicular language, only to be used for conversational purposes. The novelty of the article will also oversee the extent of Hindi language teachings, since its early inception, and the repertoire of means that were adopted to retain her true essence in safe guarding her for the future generations. So much so, the piece is also going to look upon some of the ways in which Hindi literary writings could be brought back in Fiji’s current digitalised era, and what could be done to stop her from being near extinction.