Letefoho, November 22, 2024 (Média Democracia) – At Elementary School 1, 2 Number 238 Tata-Mailau Leo-Basa, Lauana Village, Ermera District, every Saturday the teachers ask students to bring 5 liters of water because there is no clean water that can be used for their needs.
Due to the lack of clean water in Leobasa Hamlet, students are forced to fetch water from a long distance to bring it to school because the school does not have water for cooking food and for sanitation.
As a student at the Tata-Mailau Leo Basa Filial School, Ester Deus, who is blind, said that every Saturday the teachers forced them to fetch water from a distance of more than 1 km to cook and had to fill up 5 liters of water.
“On Saturdays we have to fetch water because the teacher asked us to and we have to go, from our school to the water source it is very far, you could say 1km,” She said.
She informed that it was not only students who brought water, but also teachers, all of them had to take 5 liters of water from home to school because there was no water at school.
“Not only we bring water, but also teachers and each student one jerrycan so that it can be used for cooking and toilets,” She said.
On that occasion, the school coordinator, Domingos Soares, said that it was true that there was a school regulation that required students to bring water to school every Saturday, because there was no water in the area and the surrounding community was experiencing the same thing, therefore the school took the initiative to make this regulation by asking students to bring and take water, each person at least 5 liters.
“So the water is filled into the toilet and used for cooking for a week until Saturday is taken again, so it can be used for cooking and the toilet, if students do not bring it then the toilet is very dirty, therefore it is the student’s obligation to bring water every Saturday.” He said.
He said that each student was given one jerry can, which was requested by the school because the school was having difficulty getting clean water.
He emphasized that based on the location of the school above and the water below, it makes it difficult for schools and the community to get clean water, so they have to look for other alternatives to get clean water.
“The distance from the spring to the school is less than 1 km, clean water is below and the school is above, so the water cannot flow to the school, if it is not taken we ask the community to bring it here, yes we have to pay, so we made a rule to use it for a week,” he said.
He emphasized that in fact, students should not be asked to take water because it is not in accordance with the rules, but is forced by the situation.
“In fact, we cannot force students, we are against the rules but are also forced by circumstances, if there is no water in the toilet then it will be a big problem, if they eat every day how are they going to defecate and urinate, therefore it is like the way we usually do it, but not for all students, those who are still children we say no,” he said.
He admitted that forcing his students to bring water was indeed against the rules because it did not apply to all schools, but this was due to the situation faced by the school, namely a water shortage.
“Regarding the rules, it is true that we violated them. If there is water here and we do it to students, yes we violate it, but there is no water so we have to ask students to do it. Then we also identify children who should not take water but go to the older ones.” He said.
In addition, the Head of Leobasa Village, Alfredo Maia Pires added that the water problems faced by the school and Leobasa Village led to the emergence of an initiative between the community and the school to invite students and teachers to fetch water from the school.
“The authorities are sad because of the lack of water, according to the law it is stated that students are not allowed to bring water, they cannot force them to work, besides water is very difficult to find so this must be done because they also have toilets or are used for cooking, and teachers also bring because this has the approval of parents and local authorities with the school.” Said the village head
In addition, Primary School Grade 1,2 number 238 Tata-Mailau is located in Leobasa sub-village, Lauana village, Letefoho sub-administration, Ermera Municipality with a total of 189 students and 7 teachers.
Reported by : Estefania
Picture by : Estefania