Electricity has the potential to significantly enhance the educational experience for students and teachers at Domonisavu Primary School in Nayarabale, Cakaudrove. This school, which serves 67 students from kindergarten through class eight, has been without electricity for the past seven years.
Located 60 kilometers from Labasa town, Domonisavu Primary School employs five teachers. According to school manager Manoa Tamaitugi, the community built the school in 1960, initially relying on kerosene lamps before acquiring a generator for electricity.
In 2007, the school received a large solar panel from the European Union, but it broke down after a decade. Since 2017, the school has made several verbal and written requests to the Ministry of Education for new solar panels.
Tamaitugi highlighted the challenges faced by teachers, who must travel to Labasa to print worksheets, exam papers, and other educational materials due to the lack of electricity. He emphasized that providing electricity would greatly enhance students’ learning conditions, allowing for better lighting in classrooms and enabling extra tutoring sessions.
With electricity, teachers would also have access to better teaching resources such as televisions, laptops, and projectors, as well as Wi-Fi for online resources and device charging capabilities.
The students come from various local settlements, including Nayarable Village, Baleyaganiga, Nayaqalevu, Tabia, Dokanaisuva, and Namagala. The school comprises four classrooms, a library, an early childhood education area, a headteacher’s office, and accommodations for four teachers.
Tamaitugi noted that while parents recognize the school’s rural setting, they continue to urge him to seek assistance from the Ministry of Education, especially as urban schools receive more support from the government. He added that there is no mobile network coverage at the school, requiring teachers to hike up a mountain just to make phone calls.
The community is hopeful that the government will assist in providing solar panels to motivate students in their studies. Education Minister Aseri Radrodro has been approached and assured that he would investigate the matter and respond accordingly.