It’s been a week since the Environmental Services Division of the Department of Health closed schools in Manu’a because of unsanitary and unsafe conditions. As of Tuesday morning the elementary schools in Ofu, Faleasao and Fitiuta are still closed and students are taking virtual classes.
The principal of Manu’a High school reported that only the school cafeteria was closed but not the whole school. She said students had to take virtual classes for a few days last week because of an accreditation for the JROTC program but the school was not closed.
Director of education Maefau Dr Mary Taufetee inspected the Manu’a schools last week. She said through a spokesperson Tuesday morning that clean up of the schools is continuing this week and necessary repairs are being carried out. For now the elementary schools are holding virtual classes. The DOE director conveyed that all of the conditions which were identified by the DOH inspections will be rectified before schools reopen.
The Manager of the Environmental Health Services Division of DOH Aileen Solaita said they are awaiting word on the progress of clean up work in the schools before conducting follow up inspections.
On Tuesday in the House of Representatives, Vice Speaker Fetui Fetu said he joined the DOE inspection team that visited Manu’a schools last week. He said there used to be maintenance staff based in Manu’a to service schools there however he learned during last week’s visit that this is no longer the case. He said DOE is using a contractor to carry out necessary repairs for now. The Vice Speaker said feedback from some parents and teachers in his district was that the closure of schools could have been avoided but it seemed that the DOH inspectors were treating the schools the same as businesses.
It’s his view that the DOH inspections have been beneficial in that it has resulted in the Department of Education focusing attention on Manu’a schools.
