RA High School is one of the many schools in the Western Division severely damaged by Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston.

Six classrooms were destroyed along with the school office, four school quarters, a science laboratory with all its equipment, and a computer laboratory along with more than 20 computers.

“There has been so much damage,” said school principal Naisa Cama Toko.

“It will take a lot of money and a lot of work to get things back to normal here at Ra High School.”

Mr Cama said the Education Minister visited the school and informed him that they would have to re-open by March 7.

“We have been getting a lot of help from the villagers of Matawailevu because most students’ parents are from there. They have helped us clear up most of the debris that was in the school compound.

“We have not lost hope and we plan to start classes by March 7. Even if the school classrooms are not rebuilt yet, we have tents that have been donated that we will use as classrooms.

“The most important thing is that our children need to continue with their education and we plan to do that.”