More than 600 students will attend classes in dormitories and teachers’ houses this year at Malapoa College.

This follows damage caused by the earthquake to the new buildings donated by China.

Acting Principal of Malapoa College, Akasten Tabi, told VBTC News that the main challenge is space.

“So we have converted dormitories and ablution blocks into classrooms, some dormitories into teachers’ offices, and we will try to use any non-existing classroom space. Starting today, we will register students. This year there are around 168 Year 12 students, 222 Year 11 students, and 240 Year 13 students, excluding those who requested transfers.”

Buildings affected include the school administration block, library, and new dormitories.

“There are two teaching dormitories and offices, a dining hall, sports complex, a three-storey teaching classroom building, a two-storey building, one library, one teachers’ working office, and one administration building. They will work on demolishing them, and the timeline is until 2027.”

In the same interview, Principal Education Officer for the Shefa Education Office, David Naviti, said that education is a right for every child and Malapoa is working to find space for students stating that this year Malapoa College will no longer offer junior and secondary only senior level year 12 and 13 and another strategy used is we make students use any available classrooms or school halls we can turn it into a classroom and temporary learning centers as tents.

Malapoa College removed Year 9 before last year and removed Year 10 last year due to feeder schools being upgraded, such as Kawenu.