UTU High School near Kavieng can now undergo renovation to accommodate Grade 11 next year and Grade 12 thereafter, thanks to the New Ireland provincial government.
The government transferred K700,000, originally budgeted for Manggai Agro High School, to fund this upgrading and renovation work at Utu High School.
The K700,000 funding was originally budgeted for Manggai Agro High School but the Stucky-Rabana government diverted the funds at election time.
New Ireland governor Sir Julius Chan said the funds were for purchase of relevant teaching aids and materials, renovation and maintenance of classrooms and school buildings to suit the conditions and added responsibility.
The upgrading of Utu High School would make it the second school in New Ireland after Namatanai Secondary School to offer Grade 11 and Grade 12 classes.
Sir Julius said the expansion of Utu High School would create room for more students in the province to continue Grade 11 and 12 and thus take advantage of the government’s new education policy which provided 75% subsidy.