Electricity could significantly enhance the educational experience for students and teachers at Domonisavu Primary School in Nayarabale, Cakaudrove. The school, which has an enrollment of 67 students ranging from kindergarten to class eight, has been without electricity for the past seven years.
Located 60 kilometers from Labasa town, Domonisavu Primary School employs five teachers. School manager Manoa Tamaitugi explained that when the school was established by the community in 1960, they relied on kerosene lamps and later acquired a generator for power. “Thanks to the European Union, we received a large solar panel in 2007, but it broke down after ten years,” Mr. Tamaitugi stated.
Since 2017, the school has made both verbal and written requests to the Ministry of Education for solar panels to help support their needs. He noted that teachers must travel to Labasa to print worksheets, exam papers, and other educational materials due to the lack of electricity on-site.
“Electricity would transform our children’s learning environment. It would not only facilitate printing and photocopying but also enable additional classes with improved lighting,” he explained. With electricity, teachers could utilize better teaching aids such as televisions, laptops, and overhead projectors, as well as access Wi-Fi and recharge devices.
The student body at Domonisavu Primary includes children from surrounding areas, including Nayarable Village and several settlements like Baleyaganiga, Nayaqalevu, Tabia, Dokanaisuva, and Namagala. The school comprises four classrooms, a library, an early childhood education space, and facilities for the headteacher and teachers.
Mr. Tamaitugi mentioned that while parents understand the challenges of a rural school, they continue to urge him to seek assistance from the Ministry of Education, especially as urban schools receive more government support. He pointed out that due to a lack of network coverage, teachers must hike up a mountain to make mobile phone calls.
“There is hope that the government could provide us with solar panels to motivate the children in their studies,” he said. During a parliamentary session, Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro was approached regarding the issue and promised to investigate and respond.