Valelawa Primary School in Macuata continues to conduct classes in makeshift recycled tents. Other schools facing similar challenges are located in Yadua Village, Bua, and Laucala District School on Qamea Island, Cakaudrove. These institutions suffered damage during natural disasters and have resorted to using temporary shelters.
Laucala District School was affected by a landslide in 2016, while Yadua Village School experienced devastation during Tropical Cyclone Yasa in 2020. The tent setup at Valelawa Primary School, which was established by parents 70 years ago and originally had four classrooms, has also been used after the buildings were damaged in the same cyclone. The school is about a one-hour drive from Labasa Town, situated two kilometers from the main road, with no bus service available.
Trustee Hemant Kumar reported that the wooden building’s foundation started to shake earlier this year, rendering it unsafe for both children and teachers. After notifying the Ministry of Education (MOE), an inspection by the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF) found no termite issues, leading the ministry to provide two tents for Classes Three through Six.
Kumar noted that the tents, previously used at a different school for a year, are old and leak during heavy rain, while the heat makes the interior uncomfortable. As a result, the 70 students and four teachers have been in these tents for more than six months.
A concerned parent, who preferred to remain unnamed, expressed sorrow over their child attending classes in a tent and criticized the lack of communication from the school regarding this transition. The student described the tent conditions as similar to a goat shelter, citing an incident where goat droppings were found inside, which was later cleaned by a management member.
Despite the challenging circumstances, one student maintained hope for her education and aspirations to become a doctor, while a teacher mentioned the need for discretion due to a $45,000 grant from the MOE designated for rebuilding an early childhood education facility, also affected by the cyclone.
Permanent Secretary of the MOE, Selina Kuruleca, stated she was unaware of the situation at Valelawa Primary School during a recent visit to Labasa. She indicated they were aware of only two maritime primary schools in similar conditions and were arranging support materials for those locations.
Meanwhile, VPS manager Dhirendra Prasad announced plans for a two-day school bazaar on October 19-20 to raise $1,500, which is necessary to open a school development account in Labasa Town. He emphasized the pressing need for funds to cover labor costs for building repairs, stating the ministry’s support for constructing an early childhood education building, but noted that the first priority remains addressing the current classroom challenges.