Sainte Jeanne D’Arc, managed by the Catholic Church of Vanuatu through the Direction de l’Enseignement Catholique, is one of the largest schools in Port Vila and Vanuatu, with more than 700 students.

The Daily Post witnessed students waiting at bus stops to return home after classes were cancelled.

“We cannot sit on the chairs because there is water on them.

“There is also water under the carpets in the three tents being used as classrooms,” one student told the Daily Post while waiting for a bus.

Acting Principal Abdon Terong said the school is still dealing with the effects of Tropical Cyclones Judy and Kevin in 2023, as well as damage caused by the 17 December 2024 earthquake.

Since then, the school has erected three tents to accommodate two Year 5 classrooms and one Year 4 classroom, with a total of 92 students.

Mr. Terong said Tent 1 accommodates 26 students, Tent 2 has 32 students, and Tent 3 has 34 students.

He said the carpets inside the tents require at least a full day to dry after becoming soaked, resulting in repeated disruptions to learning during periods of bad weather.

Mr. Terong said the school recently identified two students from the tent classrooms who suffered asthma-related symptoms.

He said the school suspected the damp conditions and poor air quality inside the tents may have contributed to their respiratory problems.

He said both students were later moved to a classroom with concrete walls, a concrete floor, and an iron roof, and no longer experienced breathing difficulties.

Mr. Terong said students regularly face disruptions to their lessons because of the poor condition of the tents and damaged classrooms.

He said that if the wet weather continues, the affected students may again be unable to return to their classrooms until the carpets have dried.

In addition to the tent classrooms, Mr. Terong said three Year 1 classrooms with 116 students and one Year 4 classroom with 34 students were closed yesterday because of roof leaks.

The Daily Post also spoke to a father who had to leave work to collect his children.

He said it was difficult to understand why a major school in the capital was still relying on tent classrooms.

“I would expect these conditions in a remote outer island, not at a school in Port Vila that is located only metres from the Teaching Service Commission and the Office of the Prime Minister,” he said.

The Daily Post attempted to contact the Director General of the Ministry of Education and Training for comment yesterday, but was unsuccessful.

SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST