Students return to new classrooms

Students in Vahibé have returned to additional classrooms nearly two years after Cyclone Chido, though the reconstruction of Vahibé 1 school, which was destroyed by the storm, remains incomplete. The mayor of Mamoudzou, Ambdilwahedou Soumaïla, inaugurated the T7 building on Monday, October 26, 2026. This structure, located on the impasse square near Mogné Hazi street, includes seven modular classrooms, an administrative office, and a sanitation maintenance room.

Cyclone's impact on education

Since Cyclone Chido passed on December 14, 2024, Vahibé 2 school has absorbed students from the destroyed Vahibé 1 school, which had eleven classrooms. The number of students increased from about 450 to 1,400, spread across about fifteen classrooms. Due to the lack of space, students sometimes had only three or three and a half hours of classes per day.

Temporary solutions deployed

To address the crisis, the municipality deployed two modular buildings: T6, with six classrooms installed in the courtyard of Vahibé 2 school, and T7, with seven classrooms installed on the square opposite. These thirteen additional classrooms aim to provide 1,290 students with 24 hours of teaching per week, or about five hours of lessons per day using a rotation system.

Delays and challenges

The implementation of these temporary facilities faced challenges, including supply problems and worker attacks at the T7 site. These incidents led to a right of withdrawal and a suspension of construction in March 2026, before work resumed in August of last year.

Rebuilding Vahibé 1 remains stalled

The site of Vahibé 1 school was cleared of debris, leveled, and fenced after the cyclone. It is to be replaced by the T20 project, which plans to build twenty classrooms on the original site. Despite the progress of the project file, construction had not yet begun last September, as the municipality was waiting for a state subsidy decree. A month later, the delay continued, with the deputy mayor stating the site is ready but the financial approval is still pending. The project's estimated cost has also risen to 12.5 million euros, up from 11 million euros previously.

Parents concerned about long-term effects

Parents in Vahibé remain frustrated by the delays, noting that the project was already planned before the cyclone due to a shortage of classrooms. They fear the temporary installations may become a long-term solution. The lack of kindergarten spaces and reduced class times have forced some families to pick up their children after only a few hours of class. As the population grows and new families move in, the lack of classrooms risks having a lasting impact on children's education.