Our Beginning..
The existence of Andhra College today is a dream come true for the many people associated with Dakshina India Andhra Sangam and the school community. Its establishment has brought secondary school education closer to home for many children who would have had to travel long distances at considerable expenses and face hardships to further their educational aspirations. Long serving President of Lautoka Andhra Sangam School, late Mr Narsimullu Sirdar first mooted the idea of establishing a secondary school in the late 1970s.
He and his then committee members had confidence and courage to discuss it at various forums. They took the concept a step further by purchasing from the Housing Authority 14 acres of land in 1985 thus bringing their dream a step closer to reality.However, the dream of a high school remained just that until 1993.While financial constraints were sighted as a major factor, events that led to the establishment of the college proved otherwise.The project needed a pragmatic leader, one who believed in the cause and looked beyond petty obstacles such as lack of finance. It needed someone who had the charisma of uniting the much divided community and providing a strong and pragmatic leadership.
This vacuum was filled by Mr Ram Chandar, now retired, was the Head Teacher of Lautoka Andhra Sangam School. In 1993 he revived and re-floated the idea and worked tirelessly against all odds in ensuring that the long standing dream of a high school is materialized. He re-kindled hope, inspired people who shared his vision and mobilized community support for the high school. He carried out feasibility study, obtained approval from relevant authorities, including a written petition to the Ministry of Education and organized a grand fundraising carnival to raise money for the project. He called a public meeting in July 1993 to gauge support. Although the meeting was not well attended, it did not discourage him. A sub-committee headed by late Mr Urendra Singh as Chairman with Mr Ram Chandar as Secretary and Mt Mohammed Jannif, Mr Subaiya Sami, Mr Shiri Ramlu and Mr Vasu Dewan as committee members were appointed to carry out a feasibility study and raise funds for the project. Teachers and children of Lautoka Andhra Sangam School took up the first positive step towards bringing secondary education in June 1993.
They made a donation of $1000 to Mr Urendra Singh and pledged full support in fundraising for the project. Later another $400 was donated to complete landscaping and preparation for the school site. The high school construction committee raised more than $28,000 through the Western Fun Fair, a carnival sponsored by Food Town Supermarket. The college was constructed and in readiness for the opening of the 1995 school year. Classes began on the first school day in 1995 with English, Maths, Basic Science, Social Science, Accounting, and Economics offered to the first batch of students enrolled in two form threes. Lautoka Andhra College started off with 100 students and the bare essential office had a desk, a chair and a telephone and there were no other office machines. The first pioneer students raised money and bought a container for the school canteen. The school was officially opened in November 1995. Today Lautoka Andhra Sangam College is a fully fledged high school with classes up to Year 13.