School affected by landslide still awaits word from Education Ministry on the commencement of works

The school manager of Gram Sangathan School in Buiduna, Nausori says they are still awaiting a word from the Ministry of Education as to when work will start in relation to a major landslide about three weeks ago.

Ravindra Prasad says because of the landslide they had no choice but to close a classroom and a toilet in their school last week.

Prasad says they had to take this action as the Year 1 classroom and the toilet were near the area where a major landslide took place.

The Ministry of Education had confirmed to us two weeks ago that they will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the contractor and work on building a retaining wall will start soon after the signing.

Prasad told us yesterday afternoon that they are yet to see any work and there is a real threat to the lives of students and teachers.

When contacted again, the Education Ministry had stated that the Ministry of Environment and Infrastructure together with the Ministry of Education have already visited the site and conducted a Geo-tech assessment of the landslide.

He says the Ministry of Education cannot specify the details of how soon these works will take place and these comments will have to come from the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Ministry of Environment.