Communities build school to help ease children’s burden

THE Mur, Kasu, Somek and neighbouring communities in Rai Coast, Madang, have built the St Thomas Aquinas Primary School this year to help ease the burden of their children looking for basic primary education.
The communities have managed to secure three female teachers who had been teaching grades three to six since the beginning of this year.
Teacher-in-charge Daniella Aiwoki said the school was established by hardworking parents and citizens so their children didn’t have to walk such long distances to the otherwise nearest Saidor Primary School.
“We are all female teachers here and most students in each grade are grown up, so dealing with them is a difficult task,” she told The National.
“The parents and the school board are helping a lot to keep things in order so we can focus on our duties.”
Aiwoki said a lot of people were against the idea of having a school established because mismanagement had shattered previous attempts of establishing one.
“Many people lost hope due to the past experiences but some strong leaders kept working hard to gather people and persuade them to rebuild the school.”
She said the school was run by the Catholic education agency under the Madang education board.
“Amidst the uncertainty and negativity, the school managed to host its first event last week, which was World Environment Day.”