A primary school in the interior of Nadroga/Navosa is set to receive a solar power supply soon, courtesy of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
Motukana Primary School, located 120 kilometers from Sigatoka Town and home to 85 students, will benefit from this initiative.
“Lack of electricity in remote schools can indeed lead to education inequalities for students in those areas,” said ISA’s program head for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) Sandeep Kaur Singh. “One way to help bridge this gap is by implementing solutions that provide sustainable and reliable electricity to remote schools, such as solar power systems.”
“Through the ISA’s Solar Rooftop Project, solar panels will be installed on school buildings to generate electricity, ensuring that students have access to technology and can benefit from a more modern and well-rounded education.”
Consultants contracted by the ISA have visited the school to conduct assessments and determine the solar energy needs of the school and the teachers’ quarters.
“Currently, we are unable to offer evening classes or extra classes to students when darkness sets in due to unavailability of lights. This denies our students in remote areas the opportunity to enhance their literacy skills through evening classes,” said head teacher, Isimeli Druavesi.
Access to electricity will enable the school to offer a wider range of online courses, virtual field trips, and collaborative projects, enriching students’ educational experiences and preparing them for success in an increasingly digital world.