deserted
school
on
a
Friday
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A
recent
visit
to
Tuanikope
Basic
School,
located
on
one
of
the
Ada
East
Islands,
revealed
that
there
are
no
school
activities
for
pupils
and
students,
including
those
preparing
for
the
BECE,
on
Tuesdays
and
Fridays.
This
visit,
conducted
on
Friday,
July
5,
2024,
around
10:00am,
found
the
school
without
teachers
or
students.
Around
11:00am,
a
young
boy,
estimated
to
be
between
5
and
6
years
old,
was
seen
wandering
in
his
school
uniform,
looking
helpless.
He
eventually
left
as
none
of
his
peers
or
teachers
were
present.
Community
leaders,
concerned
about
this
situation,
spoke
to
our
news
team.
The
town’s
chief
expressed
his
worries,
noting
that
the
teachers’
absence
on
these
days
is
negatively
impacting
the
children’s
education.
Despite
his
efforts,
he
has
been
unable
to
resolve
the
issue
with
the
teachers.
Raphael
Tordzagala,
Chairman
of
the
Parent-Teacher
Association,
also
voiced
his
dissatisfaction
with
the
conduct
of
the
teachers
and
the
headmaster.
He
shared
his
personal
experience,
saying,
“I
am
a
trained
teacher
with
a
certified
certificate
from
Ada
College
of
Education,
obtained
seven
years
ago,
but
I
have
not
been
posted
since
my
National
Service.
After
my
service,
I
assisted
at
the
school,
hoping
for
a
posting
and
some
compensation,
but
that
did
not
happen.
So,
I
stopped
assisting.”
Former
students
also
blamed
their
poor
performance
in
the
BECE
on
this
issue.
Some
reported
scores
of
42,
30,
and
34,
among
others.
Many
of
these
former
students
have
not
received
placements
to
further
their
education
and
have
resorted
to
petty
trading
and
fishing.
The
news
team
followed
up
with
the
Ada
East
District
Education
Directorate
for
a
response.
Plahar,
the
Public
Relations
Officer,
confirmed
that
some
schools
on
the
island
do
not
operate
on
Tuesdays
and
Fridays
due
to
the
lack
of
an
official
boat
for
the
teachers.
However,
he
mentioned
that
plans
are
underway
to
resolve
this
issue.
“The
directorate
is
trying
its
best
to
provide
the
teachers
with
official
canoes,
outboard
motors,
and
life
jackets
to
assist
them
in
crossing
the
river
to
island
communities,”
he
added.
Until
these
challenges
are
addressed,
innocent
children
will
continue
to
miss
school,
a
situation
that
will
significantly
impact
their
future.