Six Months After Rebuild, Government School Faces Roof Issues

A leaking roof at Saint Matthew’s Government School has prompted immediate action from the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, just six months after the building’s official opening. The issue came to light after a teacher publicly voiced frustration over water soaking her lesson charts and forming puddles in the classroom.

Area Representative and Minister of Infrastructure Development, Julius Espat, confirmed that both the ministry’s lead engineer and the project contractor were immediately dispatched to assess the situation. “We’re taking this seriously,” Espat stated. “We want to ensure our children and teachers have a safe and comfortable learning environment.”

Espat explained that the problem appears to stem from clogged roof drains caused by fallen leaves from nearby trees, not structural defects. “It’s not a major issue,” he told News 5. “will have to trim the trees, and we’ll have to make sure that the management of the school does a little bit more periodic maintenance to make sure that all the drains are free.”

Espat assured that the school remains under warranty, and the contractor is already on-site addressing the issue.

The new school building was rebuilt after a devastating fire in March 2023 through a joint effort by the Ministry and local community, and was inaugurated in November 2024.