Central schools get new classrooms and teachers’ houses

TWO elementary schools at Mt Koiari are celebrating the opening of classrooms and teachers’ quarters provided by the Australian government through the Kokoda Initiative.
Double classrooms were built at the Manari Elementary School and Boridi Elementary School in Central.
Manari also has a new staff quarters which will be occupied by the principal.
The opening recently was attended by students, teachers, people and representatives of the Central administration, Australian High Commission and Seventh-day Adventist church.
Minister counsellor Andrew Egan, from the Australian High Commission, said he hoped the new buildings would improve learning outcomes and opportunities for children living at Mt Koiari.
“Through the Kokoda Initiative, Australia is partnering with the Government of PNG to deliver health and education infrastructure to support the delivery of basic services to remote communities along the Kokoda Track,” Egan said.
The new classrooms will provide more than 100 students from Manari and Boridi and the nearby villages of Milei, Daoi and Kagi with better learning environments.
The new classroom at Boridi is the first permanent school building in the village. Students will be able to use desks and chairs for the first time too.
Bosco Mailu, the Boridi school chairman, said “every year parents go to the bush to cut trees and collect bush materials to fix the classroom. It’s very hard work”.
“This classroom is something new in our school and village. We are very excited,” he said.
“The parents are happy, the whole village is happy.”