The students and teachers of Domonisavu Primary School in Nayarabale, Cakaudrove, could greatly benefit from the installation of electricity, as they have been without it for the past seven years. The school, which serves 67 students from kindergarten through class eight, is situated 60 kilometers from Labasa town and has five teachers on staff.
School manager Manoa Tamaitugi recounted that when the school was constructed by the community in 1960, they relied on kerosene lamps, later investing in a generator to provide electricity. “In 2007, thanks to the European Union, we received a large solar panel, but it unfortunately broke down after ten years,” he explained. Since 2017, Tamaitugi has been making both verbal and written requests to the Ministry of Education for support in providing new solar panels for the school.
The lack of electricity has significant implications for the educational experience. Teachers must travel to Labasa to print worksheets, exam papers, and other educational materials. “Electricity would dramatically improve our children’s learning. In addition to enabling printing and photocopying, it would allow students to attend extra classes in better lighting,” he noted. Moreover, the presence of electricity would facilitate the use of teaching aids like televisions, laptops, and projectors, as well as provide Wi-Fi access and charging capabilities for devices.
Students at DPS come from several nearby communities, including Nayarable Village, Baleyaganiga Settlement, Nayaqalevu Settlement, Tabia Settlement, Dokanaisuva Settlement, and Namagala Settlement. The school has four classrooms, a library, an early childhood education center, a headteacher’s office, and quarters for four teachers.
Tamaitugi mentioned that parents recognize the challenges of being a rural school but continue to urge him to seek assistance from the Ministry of Education, especially as schools in urban areas receive government support. He also pointed out that there is no mobile network at the school, forcing teachers to hike up a mountain to make calls.
The hope is that the government will provide solar panels to enhance the learning environment, motivating students to perform better. During a recent parliamentary session, Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro was approached about the issue and assured that he would investigate further and provide a response.