Valelawa Primary School in Macuata continues to hold classes in recycled tents, a situation that reflects the ongoing challenges faced by several other schools in the region, including Yadua Village in Bua and Laucala District School on Qamea Island. These establishments have resorted to temporary shelters after their classrooms were damaged by natural disasters.
Laucala District School was affected by a landslide in 2016, while Yadua Village School suffered damage from Tropical Cyclone Yasa in 2020. Valelawa Primary School, established by parents 70 years ago, has also seen its classrooms damaged during the cyclone. Located approximately an hour’s drive from Labasa Town and two kilometers from the main road without bus service, the school serves around 70 students and four teachers, who have been utilizing the tents for over six months.
According to Hemant Kumar, one of the school’s trustees, early in the year, the wooden building’s foundation began to shake, leading to concerns about safety. After notifying the Ministry of Education, an inspection by the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji confirmed there was no termite infestation. The ministry subsequently provided two tents for use by the students and teachers, which had previously been used at another school impacted by the cyclone. However, the tents are reportedly old, leak during heavy rain, and lack proper ventilation.
Parents and students have expressed dissatisfaction with the situation. One parent, who wishes to remain anonymous, expressed sadness over seeing his daughter attend classes in a tent, noting the lack of communication from the school regarding the shift. A male student compared the tent to a goat shelter, recalling an incident where goat feces were found on the floor, while another student highlighted the leaking issue affecting the seating area.
Despite these concerns, one of the teachers indicated that they feel compelled to remain silent due to the Ministry of Education’s support in providing a $45,000 grant for constructing a much-needed early childhood education building that was also damaged during the cyclone.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Selina Kuruleca, stated during a visit to Labasa that she was unaware of the students studying in tents and mentioned plans to deliver materials to two maritime primary schools. However, after her visit, there has been no follow-up communication regarding the situation at Valelawa Primary School.
To address their financial needs, VPS manager Dhirendra Prasad announced plans for a two-day school bazaar on October 19-20 to raise $1,500 for opening a bank account in Labasa Town. He emphasized the urgency of securing funds for labor costs associated with the construction efforts. While the ministry is assisting with the early childhood education building, the management aims to prioritize this project before addressing the need for classrooms to eliminate the use of tents.
The situation continues to call attention to the difficulties faced by rural schools in Fiji, with local management indicating their commitment to improving conditions despite limited resources.