Electricity could significantly enhance the educational experience for students and teachers at Domonisavu Primary School in Nayarabale, Cakaudrove. The school, which serves 67 students from kindergarten to eighth grade, has been without electricity for the past seven years.
Situated 60 kilometers from Labasa town, Domonisavu Primary School has five teachers. According to school manager Manoa Tamaitugi, the community built the school in 1960, initially using kerosene lamps before purchasing a generator for electricity. In 2007, the school received a large solar panel thanks to the European Union, but it broke down after ten years.
Since then, Tamaitugi has made multiple verbal and written requests to the Ministry of Education for assistance in providing new solar panels. “Teachers have to travel to Labasa to print worksheets, exam papers, and other educational materials because there is no electricity available at the school,” he explained. “Having electricity would greatly improve our children’s learning environment. In addition to printing and photocopying, students could attend extra classes with sufficient lighting, and teachers could utilize better teaching aids such as televisions, laptops, and overhead projectors. Furthermore, there would be Wi-Fi, and devices could be easily recharged.”
The student body comes from various locations, including Nayarable Village, Baleyaganiga Settlement, Nayaqalevu Settlement, Tabia Settlement, Dokanaisuva Settlement, and Namagala Settlement. The school features four classrooms, a library, an early childhood education space, the headteacher’s office, and four teacher quarters within its compound.
Tamaitugi noted that while parents recognize the school’s rural setting, they continue to urge him to seek support from the Ministry of Education, especially since schools in urban areas are receiving government assistance. He added, “There is literally no mobile network at the school, forcing teachers to climb mountains just to make phone calls.”
The school community remains hopeful that the government will provide solar panels, which they believe will motivate students to excel in their studies. When approached in Parliament about the matter, Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro expressed his commitment to investigate the issue and provide a response.