Valelawa Primary School in Macuata continues to conduct classes in recycled tents, following damage to its classrooms caused by natural disasters. Similar situations are faced by schools in Yadua Village, Bua, and Laucala District School on Qamea Island, which have also had to use temporary shelters since their facilities were compromised.
Laucala District School was impacted by a landslide in 2016, while Yadua Village School suffered damage from Tropical Cyclone Yasa in 2020. Valelawa Primary School, which has been in operation for 70 years and was built by parents at that time, saw its four classrooms severely affected during the same cyclone.
Located about two kilometers from the main road, the school is an hour’s drive from Labasa Town and lacks bus services. According to Hemant Kumar, one of the school’s trustees, the wooden building has become unsafe for students and teachers due to structural issues observed earlier this year. After notifying the Ministry of Education (MOE), an inspection by the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji confirmed there were no termite infestations.
The MOE then provided two tents for Classes Three through Six. Kumar noted that these tents are old and leak during heavy rain, creating uncomfortable learning conditions for the 70 students and four teachers who have been using them for more than six months.
A concerned parent, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed disappointment over the lack of communication from the school regarding the situation. A student described the tents as resembling goat shelters, having discovered goat droppings inside one morning, which were later cleaned. Another student shared that despite the challenges, teachers have remained quiet about the issues due to the MOE’s offer of a $45,000 grant for rebuilding an early childhood education facility also damaged in the cyclone.
MOE Permanent Secretary Selina Kuruleca stated that she was unaware of the situation at Valelawa Primary School, affirming that the ministry was working on providing materials to schools rather than tents. However, she said she would investigate the matter further.
Valelawa Primary School’s manager, Dhirendra Prasad, mentioned plans for a two-day school bazaar on October 19 and 20 to raise funds necessary for establishing a bank account and cover labor costs for building repairs. He emphasized the urgency to construct suitable classrooms for the students, recognizing that local families lack the resources to independently finance such projects.