IT was a bold announcement to the people of Daulo by the MP Kondo Patrick during his belated swearing-in ceremony in the EHP assembly (Dec 31).
The idea of a Daulo High School was hatched because of the need to have such a school for the electorate in 1980s by then late MP Gai Duwambane.
As there was no high school in Daulo, students from the electorate had to enrol at the Asaroka Lutheran High School.
Successive MPs like Sowa Gunia and Ron Ganarafo said the same thing but it was more a political rhetoric.
About 15 years ago, the national Education Department endorsed the proposal to have two more high schools built in the province – in Okapa and Daulo.
Okapa proposed setting up the Invingoi High School but it never took off because of budgetary appropriations and the proposal ended up collecting dust in the corridors of Waigani.
Looking through the MTDS (2008-2014) on National Education Sector Planning and Provincial Education Plan, no such proposals have been endorsed or discussed in the planning room.
Conrad Esoke, the current Eastern Highlands provincial education adviser, should enlighten the MP on this issue.
Other proposal including a vocational and technical college is a great idea but college education is a national function. This is more likely a political gimmick.
A secondary school must be built somehow and it must happen in the current Parliament.
The MP must treat it as a matter of urgency and priority to push for this establishment.
Secondly, the most important policy announcement for the people is the school fee subsidies for Daulo students in colleges and universities.
This is an overdue policy that should help a lot of poor parents.
I commend the MP for this policy statement as timely, appropriate and every citizen of Daulo must work hard to send their children to schools.
I would rather like to see that the high school fees are also subsidised.
MP Patrick, this is a great way to start off your political career.

Stanley Sirifave
Kabaleo Teachers College, Kokopo