The Northern Marianas Public School System admits that it's facilities are not ready for the upcoming typhoon season with buildings still not fully rebuilt after last October's Super Typhoon Yutu.
Typhoon damage to William S. Reyes Elementary School in the CNMI. Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Mark Rabago
Education Commissioner Glenn Muña said the PSS hopes they won't face another major storm in the near future, adding that aside from running an educational institution, PSS is also in charge of some of the islands' primary short-term shelters.
At least 10 PSS buildings were designated as shelters during Yutu.
Four PSS campuses suffered damage from the storm.
The category five typhoon decimated the Herbert G. Hopwood Middle School, rendering the whole campus unusable and forcing its nearly 1,000 students to continue their classes in tents.
The Francisco M. Sablan Middle School lost a whole building, while Oleai Elementary School also sustained damage.
Marianas High School, one of the several schools that used as a shelter, reported damage to some of their buildings, including having the roof of their new gymnasium blown off.