The lack of electricity has posed significant challenges 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 and is situated 60 kilometers from Labasa town, staffed by five teachers.
School manager Manoa Tamaitugi shared that when the school was established by the community in 1960, it relied on kerosene lamps and later a generator for power. In 2007, a major solar panel was installed thanks to the European Union, but it has since broken down.
Since 2017, Tamaitugi has submitted both verbal and written requests to the Ministry of Education for new solar panels to support the school’s needs. He emphasized that the absence of electricity forces teachers to travel to Labasa for essential educational materials like worksheets and exam papers. The introduction of electricity would greatly enhance students’ learning environments by allowing for better lighting in classrooms and access to printing and photocopying machines. It would also enable teachers to use modern teaching aids such as televisions, laptops, and overhead projectors while providing Wi-Fi access and the ability to recharge devices.
Students at Domonisavu Primary come from several local settlements including Nayarable Village, Baleyaganiga, Nayaqalevu, Tabia, Dokanaisuva, and Namagala. The school features four classrooms, a library, an early childhood education center, the headteacher’s office, and accommodations for four teachers.
Tamaitugi noted that parents are aware of the rural setting of the school but regularly encourage him to seek assistance from the Ministry of Education, particularly since governmental support seems skewed towards urban schools. He also mentioned the absence of network coverage, forcing teachers to climb mountains to make mobile calls.
The school community remains hopeful that the government will provide assistance with solar panels, which would motivate students and enhance their educational experience. When the Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro, was questioned about the matter in Parliament, he committed to investigating the issue and providing a response.