VILLAGERS of Koroboya in the highlands of Ba recently welcomed the opening of their newly constructed and relocated school.
The original bamboo structure of Nakoroboya Primary School bowed to the force of tropical cyclone Evan in December 2012 and villagers hoped the new structure, situated at a more central location outside the village, would attract the children of those who had migrated outside the village boundary.
“Our population is about 700 or less roughly,” said village headman Savenaca Momo.
“This includes people who live in the settlements because they are all Koroboya people.
“The plan to have a school up here at the new site has been around for years, even 50 years ago. Even our parents had started to fundraise but because of lack of funding, we failed a few times in a way and we couldn’t move.”
Students residing outside the village boundary often caught the 6am bus to school but would have to wait until classes began at 8am. Some attended school elsewhere.
“Every morning, they have to come up by bus and some are still taking their children to schools closer to them. So we hope that with the opening of this new school, they will bring their children back to Nakoroboya Primary School.
“Quite a few actually have returned their children to the school. It was the distance to the village from their settlements that made them send their children elsewhere for education, but now that the school has been relocated closer to them, it is more convenient.”
