Valelawa Primary School in Macuata continues to conduct its classes in makeshift tents. This situation is not unique to Valelawa, as other schools, such as one in Yadua Village, Bua and Laucala District School on Qamea Island, have also been forced into temporary accommodations due to classroom damages from natural disasters.
Laucala District School suffered significant damage from a landslide in 2016, while Yadua Village School was impacted by Tropical Cyclone Yasa in 2020.
Originally established by parents 70 years ago, Valelawa Primary School was equipped with four classrooms, all of which were damaged during TC Yasa. Situated about an hour’s drive from Labasa Town and two kilometers from the main road, the school lacks bus services. Hemant Kumar, one of the school’s trustees, reported that the building’s foundation began to shake early this year, leading management to notify the Ministry of Education (MOE) that the structure was unsafe for students and staff. A subsequent inspection by the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF) cleared the building of termites.
Following this, the ministry provided two tents for children in Classes Three through Six, which had previously been used at another school affected by TC Yasa. However, these older tents are prone to leaks during heavy rain and create uncomfortable conditions in hot weather, as they lack proper ventilation. Approximately 70 students and four teachers have been inhabiting the tents for over six months.
A local farmer and former student expressed sorrow over his daughter’s situation, mentioning a lack of communication from the school regarding the move to tents and the timeline for returning to proper classrooms. Some students have likened the tents to animal shelters due to unsanitary conditions, with one student recalling a morning when goat feces were found on the tent floor.
Teachers have also remained largely silent about their predicament, as the ministry has allocated a $45,000 grant for the construction of a new early childhood education building, which had also been damaged during the cyclone.
The Permanent Secretary for MOE, Selina Kuruleca, recently stated she was unaware that students were studying in tents at Valelawa Primary School, noting the ministry’s awareness of only two maritime primary schools in the area. She indicated she would investigate the matter further, but a follow-up email for information yielded no response.
On October 19 and 20, the school plans to hold a bazaar to raise $1,500 to open a bank account and cover labor costs for upcoming construction projects. Despite the challenging circumstances, school manager Dhirendra Prasad emphasized the importance of building facilities for preschoolers first before addressing the needs of students in tents. He acknowledged that community resources to fund new classrooms are limited, but expressed hope in reaching out to former students for support after the bazaar.