For Richmond High School in Kadavu, nothing much had changed in more than 100 years.

Even as the country moves forward with modern technology, where most things are done from a flick of a switch, RHS was still living with rationed electricity.

Last week, that changed. The school took a huge leap when it received dozens of solar panels for electrification, a 75 horsepower outboard engine, a new library, a computer centre and a generator.

Thanks to Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.

The solar panels will give the students and teachers the freedom to work with any electrical gadget, 24/7, as enjoyed by their counterparts in urban schools.

Mr Bainimarama officially launched the project. Of the $31,000 cost, $16,000 were given by the old scholars now living in overseas.

Vasemaca Sorovi, the school bursar for the past 30 years, was smiling for a very good reason. She knew her problems had been solved.

According to other teachers, she would be the most famous face travelling daily to Vunisea and back to photocopy test papers, send emails and other electronic tasks needed for the school.

“But today, I am just a switch away from everything that took me a day to complete. I thank the PM who made a promise and fulfilled it within a short period of time,” Ms Sorovi said.

“The children will remember this for the rest of their lives knowing the hardship they once faced.”

The children, she said, now had access to the internet and no longer had to use lanterns during those dark nights.

“We were 15 minutes by boat to Vunisea and people feared the road conditions too,” she said.

But, she said with her eyes closed, the beacon that was dimmed by remoteness, the lack of infrastructure and technology, is lit again