Another school forced to close

YET another Port Moresby primary school has closed down due to poor toilet and sanitation facilities, denying children’s learning at a prime time in their lives.
More than 1500 pupils are not in school because St Paul’s Catholic Primary School was ordered to shut by the National Capital District Commission health department until its deteriorating ablution block was deemed fit again for human use.
The Gerehu school has been closed for four weeks at least and there is no light at the end of the tunnel for its 1586 pupils because there is no money to repair and upgrade the facilities.
The Eki Vaki Primary School in Hohola suffered a similar fate just recently but it is back in action.
“The students have missed a lot of lessons and assessments,” St Paul’s Catholic Primary’s deputy head teacher Kathrine Kandu told The National.
“It’s been four weeks now and nothing has been done to get the children back in class.”
Since the closure of the school, parents decided to create an interim committee to oversee the issues.
They agreed to contribute K50 each and since then only 40 to 50 parents have contributed, with about K2500 raised but not enough to get work started work on rundown ablution block.
The ablution block is covered in graffiti, there is a lot of blockages, septic tanks missing and broken toilet bowls with water basically trickling from the taps when fully turned on.
According to the chairman of the committee, Tom Kilda, the project would need at least K200,000 as per quotation to fix everything.
“The more we’re waiting for other parents to put forward their contributions, our children are missing lessons every day,” Kilda said.
The committee does not have much options but to make an open appeal to business houses, National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop, MPs and former students to help.
Apart from other school facilities, the ablution block is one of the main projects that needs immediate attention.
Teachers are worried that students have been missing classes for 30 days and may lead to their termination in accordance with the Education Department’s policy.
With final examinations approaching, 180 Grade 8 students are in danger of missing out on their crucial tests.
“Our students have missed their second mock exams that were supposed to be conducted last week,” Kandu said.