Broken-down Finschhafen school needs K1.5mil for repairs

A PROPOSAL for the maintenance and renovation of Dregerhafen Secondary School, in Finschhafen, will cost around K1.5 million, according to board chairman Bussim Stoessel.
The school was closed on March 4 after two issues mentioned in an environment health reports were not addressed.
The reports revealed defective sanitary facilities, inadequate and unreliable water supply, rundown and unhygienic mess facility and defective building structures.
Stoessel said a survey by the school carpentry team concluded that K1,554,455.14 was needed for the renovations.
“The K400,000 (in previous reports) will be enough to maintain the teachers’ houses only,” he said.
“We got quotes from Plumtrade Limited, in Lae, which is attached to the general maintenance project proposal, and has already been distributed to the Governor’s office, Finschhafen MP’s office and heads of the divisions of health and education.”
He said many school infrastructural projects had to be put on hold because of the late payment of tuition fee free funds and project fees from the government.
“With the quarterly payments of TFF, we cannot build new infrustructure and maintain existing ones, and at the same time, also take care of students in terms of food and administration costs,” Stoessel said.
He said they were planning to seek funds elsewhere when the closure notice was issued.
The school board has been allowed by the provincial health division to let grade 10 and grade 12 students to continue classes.
Provincial education programme adviser Keith Jiram said improving the facilities was important.