FOUR primary schools were to have received funding from the National Government to build teachers’ houses and classrooms under the Basic Education Facilities Upgrade Programme.
The Department of National Planning and Monitoring (DNPM) approved the submissions after going through a stringent project appraisal process.
Busamang Primary School in Morobe province was allocated K354,600; Bialla Primary School in West New Britain K450,000; Oksapmin Primary School in Sandaun province K1,010,000; and, Seranguandu Community School in the East Sepik province K434,202.
Towards the end of last year, the schools were notified about the good news and everyone was excited that bush material buildings would soon be replaced with permanent ones.
Parents would no longer have to do the hard work of going to the bush every year to collect bush materials.
More importantly, teachers and students would now enjoy the comfort of good living and learning conditions resulting in improved academic performances.
It has been nearly one year since the projects were approved for funding by DNPM.
The functions of implementation have since been transferred to the National Department of Education (NDoE).
We have been reliably informed that Treasury Department has transferred the funds to NDoE six months ago.
Every week, when we inquire with NDoE on the progress, we are continuously told that the secretary has yet to sign a certain document and that we are to check again the following week.
When we do that, we are given all sorts of excuses. Lately, we are told that the secretary is attending the PAC meeting.
This continued delay in implementing the project has raised questions about the performance of some of our public servants, especially those who hold positions of authority where their actions and decisions influence lives of multitudes.
Our Grades 3 and 4 students who use the bush material classrooms sit under the rain on a wet day.
Four teachers’ houses built from bush materials are rotting away.
Two bush material warehouses built by the community to store permanent building materials and equipment for this project are falling apart.
The community is reluctant to do anything because they have heard of this project and have been patiently waiting for one year.
Our patience is now running thin.
What concerns us is the long implementation process.
Our country needs infrastructure development projects such as in classrooms, teachers’ houses, aid posts, health staff houses, roads and bridges more than any other form of development.
Other development projects would follow once the infrastructure is in place.
We call on the Secretary for Education Joseph Pagelio to tell us what is going on and when the funds would be released.
What is more important – you attending seminars and conferences or fast tracking of projects especially those in the rural areas?
Can you delegate some of your authoritative functions to other officers within your department to relieve you of your busy schedule and approve vital development projects?
Lastly, if you think your department is not capable of handling our project, please say so and we can arrange for DNPM to take over because we believe they have well educated young talented officers who understand a lot about project implementation.

Concerned parent
Lae