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 last seven years. It is situated 60 kilometers from Labasa town and employs five teachers.
Manoa Tamaitugi, the school manager, noted that the community constructed the school in 1960, initially relying on kerosene lamps before acquiring a generator for electricity. “In 2007, we received a large solar panel thanks to the European Union, but it failed ten years later,” Mr. Tamaitugi explained.
Since then, the school has made numerous verbal and written requests to the Ministry of Education for solar panels to support its educational needs. Currently, teachers must travel to Labasa to print worksheets, exam papers, and other materials due to the lack of electricity at the school.
Mr. Tamaitugi emphasized the importance of electricity in improving students’ learning conditions, which would allow for the use of printing and photocopying machines, as well as enhanced lighting for extra classes. It would also enable teachers to utilize better teaching tools such as televisions, laptops, and other technology, along with access to Wi-Fi and charging facilities for devices.
The students of Domonisavu Primary School come from several local settlements, including Nayarable Village and Baleyaganiga Settlement. The school has four classrooms, a library, an early childhood education facility, a headteacher’s office, and four quarters for teachers.
Parents recognize that the school is rural but continue to encourage Mr. Tamaitugi to seek assistance from the Ministry of Education, as schools in urban areas are receiving government support. He added that there is no network service at the school, forcing teachers to hike up the mountain to make mobile calls.
“We remain hopeful that the Government can help us secure solar panels, which would motivate the children to perform better in their studies,” Mr. Tamaitugi stated. During a recent parliamentary session, Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro assured that he would investigate the issue and provide a response.