Unsanitary and unsafe conditions have forced the closure of all public schools in American Samoa for a week.
The opening of the new school year was due tomorrow, but will instead start on August the 19th.
Health inspections uncovered problems ranging from rodent-infected kitchens, with one school having decayed food on the floor, poor water supply, and improper ventilation.
The director of the department of education, Vaitinasa Dr. Salu Hunkin Finau says they are spending the week to ensure cafeterias, bathrooms and campuses are ready for the children.
"Students should not be reporting to school, but all DOE staff should be reporting to their respective location of work and they should be engaged and assisting the 'adopt a school' programme which will continue until next week and whatever that can be done to help rectify the findings from the department of health."
Vaitinasa Dr. Salu Hunkin Finau says she hopes that by the time the department of health revisits the schools, there will be no further citations.
