The introduction of electricity could significantly enhance the educational experience for both students and teachers at Domonisavu Primary School in Nayarabale, Cakaudrove. The school, which caters to 67 students from kindergarten to eighth grade, has been without electricity for the past seven years.
Situated 60 kilometers from Labasa town, the school is staffed by five teachers. According to school manager Manoa Tamaitugi, when the institution was established by the community in 1960, they relied on kerosene lamps before later acquiring a generator for electricity. In 2007, they received a substantial solar panel from the European Union, but it ceased functioning a decade later.
Since 2017, the school has made multiple verbal and written requests to the Ministry of Education for assistance in providing solar panels. The absence of electricity forces teachers to travel to Labasa to print worksheets, exam papers, and other educational materials.
Mr. Tamaitugi emphasized the importance of electricity, stating that it would greatly enhance student learning by enabling access to printing and photocopying machines and facilitating additional classes in better-lit environments. Furthermore, the presence of electricity would allow teachers to utilize improved teaching aids such as televisions, laptops, and overhead projectors, as well as provide Wi-Fi access for recharging devices.
Students attending Domonisavu Primary School come from nearby settlements 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 center, a headteacher’s office, and four teachers’ quarters.
Despite understanding the limitations of a rural school, parents have been urging Mr. Tamaitugi to seek assistance from the Ministry of Education, particularly since urban schools receive more government support. He highlighted the challenge of communication, noting that teachers often trek to the mountains to use mobile phones.
There is hope among the school community that the government will provide solar panels to inspire students to excel academically. Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro, when questioned in Parliament, assured that he would address the issue and provide a response.