Tears shed for school repairs on Yacata

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Master Tawake Colati attends to Year 5 and 6 students inside Yacata’s community hall in April 2019. Picture: JOHN KAMEA /FILE

PENI Qusa could not hold back his tears as he pleaded with authorities to swiftly complete rehabilitation works at Sukanaivalu Primary School on Yacata Island, Cakaudrove.

For the past 14 months, teachers have struggled to hold composite classes accommodated in makeshift classrooms at one end of the village community hall.

There are also concerns over poor ventilation and lighting.

All teachers are billeted in one house, forcing two teachers to leave their families back on Viti Levu as they await the completion of their staff quarters.

“I plead with authorities to see that work on our school block and living quarters are completed as a matter of priority,” an emotional Mr Qusa said.

“For over a year our children and teachers have been affected. Our married teachers need their own homes and space to raise their families. They should not be housed under one roof.”

Mr Qusa said authorities had not clarified the delay in construction works with them.

Village headman Jone Vakatale agrees the delay has affected learning and work.

“Our children cannot learn and study properly when their classes are next to each other in a small space. It is hard to concentrate because of the noise and we would like to ask the ministry to look into the matter,” Mr Vakatale said.

Cubicle-style classrooms in Yacata. Picture: JOHN KAMEA

“As for teachers, they need to be housed adequately. Right now we have four teachers occupying one house and I feel it is unfair on them.”

He said the delay in building works were attributed to the difficulty in transporting building materials to the island because the waters adjacent to the village were too shallow.

Salote Tikotani thanked teachers for their patience and for working under a challenging environment.

“Teachers should be taken care of so that they can do their work properly and feel at home. They leave their families behind to teach in remote islands like Yacata and they need proper facilities,” Ms Tikotani said.

The 67-year-old grandmother said she wanted the ministry to intervene for the sake of the children of Yacata.

Students and teachers were moved out temporarily of the school compound more than a year ago to allow building works to take place.

However, 14 months later work has barely progressed.

School compound – classrooms and teachers’ quarters still under construction. Picture: JOHN KAMEA

When approached for a comment at the 2019/2020 National Budget consultation in Suva last Saturday, Economy Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said he would only answer questions related to the budget.

In response to queries from this newspaper yesterday, Education Ministry permanent secretary Allison Burchell said this project was not under their ministry and suggested that we contact the Economy Ministry.

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