Bougainville changes school plans to make more space for secondary education

 By ELIZABETH VUVU

THERE are plans to lift the status of three schools in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville to make secondary education more available.

The three schools are the region’s only all-girls school – St Mary’s Asitavi High, Arawa Secondary and Haku High schools.

Bougainville’s chief executive officer for education  Bruno Babato said the St Mary’s would be elevated to become the first all-girls secondary school.  Arawa and Haku, which are day schools, will become boarding institutions.

“This plan has the support of Central Bougainville MP and Minister for Communication Jimmy Miringtoro, who has committed K3.8 million from the 2012 district services improvement programme funds to Arawa secondary,” Babato said.

He said Miringtoro would also be giving some funding to St Mary’s for upgrading and maintenance.

Regional member Joe Lera has  allocated some funds to Haku High and Tinputz High schools, he said.

“The ABG division of education would like to request the members Lauta Atoi, for North Bougainville, and Steven Pirika and Minister for Bougainville Affairs to also make their commitments to upgrade and expand secondary schools in their respective electorates,” Babato said.

He said last year the ABG allocated K9 million for the development of secondary education and the first contract was awarded to Treid Pacific to build four-in-one classroom blocks at Arawa secondary, St Mary’s high, and Haku high this year.

The next lot of schools to benefit from the development funding include Bana High School, and Devare SDA High and the third group will cater for Holy Cross Nissan high, Tinputz high and Kunua high.