The Pula Elementary and Junior High School is on the brink of collapse, with over 500 students struggling to learn in a dilapidated environment.
The school’s infrastructure is in shambles, with leaking roofs, overcrowded classrooms, and a severe shortage of seats, forcing some students to sit on bare floors.
The situation is dire, with teachers combining two or three classes in a single room, making it challenging for lessons to be effective.
Principal Gregory Namely said the facilities, including his own office, are in a state of disrepair, leaving both teachers and students exposed to the elements.
“We have students sitting under trees, and when it rains, we have to send them home,” Namely said.
”It’s heartbreaking to see our students suffer like this.”
Kindergarten teacher Aletha Weah said the situation is taking a toll on her own life, as she walks over five hours each way to get to the school due to lack of transport.
“I’m not just a teacher, I’m a mother, and it’s hard to see my children suffer like this,” she said.
Despite the challenges, teachers are determined to keep classes going, refusing to send students home to roam the streets.
Principal Namely has therefore made a desperate plea to the government for help, calling for rehabilitation of the school, more classrooms, and proper seating to create a safe and conducive learning environment.
”We need help, and we need it now,” Namely said. “The students deserve better.”
The call has echoed across the community, with parents and teachers alike calling for immediate action to address the crisis at Pula School.
