Another blow to Dregerhafen Sec after fire destroys classrooms, office

By EREBIRI ZURENUOC
FOUR classrooms and an office at a school were destroyed in a fire last Thursday, affecting classes for 346 grade 10 students.
Dregerhafen Secondary School board chairman Bussim Stoessel said it was the second time something bad had happened to the school in Finschhafen, Morobe.
The fire which started at around 11pm razed the four grade 10 classrooms and the office.
The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.
“The problem the school faced was on health issues and it was issued a closure notice by the provincial health division on March 1,” he said.
“The board, principal, teachers and district administration were working together to rectify the health issues.
“This (fire) (has added) more stress on our limited funds.”
Also destroyed in the office were Mathematics and English textbooks, curriculum materials, teaching aids, first term assessment results of the grade 10 classes, computers, desks, chairs and other items belonging to students and teachers.”
The school is working out alternative classrooms for the grade 10 students. District education manager Simon Shong said the school had rundown facilities but was catering for so many students.
“The district development authority has taken note of the rundown facilities at the school and the health issues that have arisen,” he said.
“There are plans to fix the school.
“We want to (renovate) all school infrastructure.”
He said with the support of stakeholders, the school had met 75 per cent of the health recommendations set out in the closure notice.