AusAID school additions worth K4.8mil

 VISITING Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard last Friday opened the K4.8 million of infrastructure development projects at Marianville Secondary School outside Port Moresby funded by the PNG-Australia Incentive Fund under AusAID.

The money has been used to build classrooms to accommodate 90 students, a dormitory for 48 girls, extension to the dining hall and home economics facility, upgrading of water supply system and the administration facility and new staff houses.

Since 2001, Australia has provided Marianville with support totalling K9.8 million for building and improving infrastructure through the incentive fund.

In 2011, Marianville received K4.8 million for the latest projects, which were opened by Gillard.

In moving scenes, grateful students sang the Australia and Papua New Guinea national anthems, as well as their school song for Gillard.

School principal Sr Angela Taylor thanked the government and people of Australia for their support..

“We are delighted to acknowledge the actual assistance we have received from AusAID through the incentive fund for the last 12 years,” she said.

The school has 720 students,

Gillard told the Marianville students that their enthusiasm made her so optimistic about the future of PNG.

“When I travel to a school, I see that there is a future being made,” she said.

“The future of today’s world is being made in classrooms.

“Looking at the girls today, I am filled with optimism, with confidence. I wish for a future where you are safe wherever you go.”