Lau school given August deadline to fix safety hazards

An 83-student school in Lau has been given three months to fix major health and safety problems or risk closure after inspectors uncovered deteriorating classrooms, unsafe toilet facilities and other Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) concerns.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services issued an abatement notice following an inspection that identified defects in classrooms, the boys' and girls' ablution blocks, and the school kitchen.

The notice took effect on May 22 and gives the school until August 22 to complete the required repairs.

Failure to address the defects within the timeframe could result in further enforcement action, including the possible closure of the school until it meets the required health and safety standards.

The findings have raised concern among island residents, who say the school's condition has deteriorated over time and is affecting students' learning environment.

"The buildings have been in poor condition for a long time. The children deserve a safe place to learn, and we hope something is finally done before it's too late," an island source said.

Another source said students were often forced to leave their classrooms during heavy rain because water leaked through damaged roofs.

"When it rains, the children have to move into another classroom and wait for the rain to stop before they can return," the source said.

Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro said the ministry had been informed of the inspection findings and was working with school officials to address the concerns.

"We would not like the school to close. Therefore, we are arranging for our team to be there to prioritise the areas of need highlighted in the inspection report," Mr Radrodro said.

He said the ministry's immediate priority was to ensure the school met the required safety standards while allowing students to continue their education without disruption.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services also confirmed it would support the school through its Schools WASH Project.

However, the school must rectify the identified defects before the August 22 deadline to avoid further enforcement action.