Valelawa Primary School in Macuata continues to hold classes in recycled tents. Other schools in similar situations are located in Yadua Village, Bua, and on Qamea Island, Cakaudrove (Laucala District School). These institutions suffered classroom damage due to natural disasters, prompting the need for temporary shelters or tents for students.
Laucala District School in Dreketi was affected by a landslide in 2016, while Yadua Village School was struck by Tropical Cyclone Yasa in 2020. Valelawa Primary School, built by parents 70 years ago with four classrooms, sustained damage during Cyclone Yasa. Located about an hour’s drive from Labasa Town, the school is two kilometers from the main road with no bus service.
Hemant Kumar, one of the school’s trustees, reported that the wooden building’s foundation began to shake earlier this year, rendering it unsafe for students and teachers. Following the management’s notification to the Ministry of Education, the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji conducted a termite inspection and confirmed the absence of termites. Subsequently, the ministry provided two tents for Classes Three through Six.
Kumar noted that the tents, previously used at a different school affected by Cyclone Yasa, are quite old, with issues such as leaks during heavy rain and excessive heat inside due to a lack of ventilation. The 70 students and four teachers have been utilizing these tents for over six months.
A 52-year-old farmer and former student expressed his disappointment at seeing his daughter learn in a tent, stating that there had been no communication from the school regarding the situation. One student compared the tent to a goat shelter, recalling finding goat feces inside. A female student mentioned how teachers have not complained despite the discomfort caused by water leaks. One teacher indicated a need for silence since the ministry provided a $45,000 grant for rebuilding an early childhood education facility that was also damaged in the cyclone.
Selina Kuruleca, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, stated in Labasa that she was unaware students were studying in tents. She mentioned only two maritime primary schools were known and that arrangements were being made to send materials across. After her visit, no response was received to follow-up inquiries regarding the school situation.
To address their financial needs, VPS manager Dhirendra Prasad announced plans for a two-day bazaar on October 19-20, aiming to raise $1,500 to open a bank account in Labasa Town, as there is currently no separate development account for the school. The focus is on raising funds for labor costs related to the construction efforts, with an emphasis on building a preschool facility as the priority before addressing the classroom situation. Prasad expressed concern over the conditions of students studying in tents, highlighting the lack of financial resources in the community to remedy the situation.