No clean running water has forced the shutdown of the Lauli'i Primary School this week with the closures becoming frequent every time it rains, the Samoa Observer can reveal. 

A concerned parent, who expressed concern at the frequent shutdown but asked to remain anonymous due to fears of being banished, called the Samoa Observer on Thursday morning to alert the newspaper to the plight of the school and its students. 

She said she was worried that her children's learning has been greatly impacted because of the closure of the school. 

The school had sought the assistance of the village's leadership – to have access to a good supply of clean water for the school to avoid further closures – but to no avail. 

This newspaper paid a visit to the school on Thursday and found that there were only teachers at the school compound with no students present. 

The principal of the school, however, refused to comment when she was approached by the Samoa Observer and said she is not authorised to speak on the issue and wanted to protect her job. 

However, this newspaper understands that the school was closed down on Wednesday because there was no clean running water. 

The Acting C.E.O. of the Ministry of Education, Sports, and Culture, Tu'umatavai Vau Peseta confirmed in response to questions from this newspaper that the decision to shut the school was based on "no water". 

A member of the Lauli'i School Committee, who lives next to the school compound, approached this newspaper on Thursday and asked the reporter to refrain from writing any report about the situation. 

He said this newspaper would have to seek "official permission" from either the village mayor or the high chief of the village. 

The village of Lauli'i doesn't get water from Samoa Water Authority as they have to get water from its own locally managed water scheme that the residents have been using over the years. 

Last December the village of Lauli'i Independent Water Scheme, a community-managed water scheme, launched its new water intake to capture and supply water to the majority of its residents. 

The community-led project was made possible through a  partnership between Laulii I.W.S. as well as LJ Company and China Harbour Engineering Company. 

The works were conducted by LJ Company which consisted of the construction of a new water intake and also the laying of a new 1km transmission polyethylene pipeline. The project was funded by China Harbour Engineering Company at the cost of about SAT$500,000. 

It was also revealed at the launch that the village has plans to utilise its District Development Funds for other water-related initiatives. According to the S.B.S. 2021 census, the population of Laulii IWS is 2,217 with 51 per cent male and 49 per cent female.

Earlier in January of this year, the Member of Parliament for Vaimauga No.1. Sulamanaia Tauiliili called for the continuous filtration of the water used by residents in Lauli'i and other nearby villages.