Survey Visit to Malapoa and Kawenu Schools

Last week the survey team visited Malapoa College to survey some 15 year olds' mouths. I noticed a big new building under construction with Chinese funding. There is a lot of Chinese aid and development happening here in Vanuatu.

 Good to see some fall protection around the perimeter of the roof - this is not common here. It's not the same as we would do it in NZ but much better than nothing.

Then we moved on to Kawenu Primary to survey some of the teachers. It was Friday early afternoon - school finishes at lunchtime every second Friday because it is pay day and the staff go to the bank to get their wages (not just at this school but in general). The Kawenu staff kindly stayed on at school a bit longer so we could use them as participants in the survey. One of their classrooms was badly damaged during Cyclone Pam - they are still waiting for the government to repair it. 

 The ridge has broken in the middle, dragging all the rest of the roof framing down with it. The wall cladding is very old timber, and it needs a total rebuild from the floor up.