Classroom woes affect students

 WHILE the 2014 academic year is looking bright for most children, Barnabas Busin, 8, who lives in Agua, Bogia district, Madang, is upset that she might not be going to school. 

The Rurunut Elementary School consists of a one-building classroom that houses elementary 1, 2 and 3.

With a sago-thatched roof and bamboo posts, the classroom caters for 40 students but was declared unfit for children as it was infested with termites. 

Last year, Barnabas’ classes were cut when the classroom fell apart. 

Renovations were made and new roofs and bamboo walls were put up but strong winds blew the roof off.

Barnabas said: “I really want to go to school but I cannot because the wind blew the roof off my classroom. And the ants ate the bamboo walls and there is a big hole.” 

Barnabas’ mum Lucy said her daughter would go back to school once the villagers fixed the classroom but she did not know when that would be.