Extra students expected to enrol

By LORRAINE JIMAL
AROUND 3,000 students are expected to enrol in one of the biggest primary schools in the National Capital District this year, an official says.
Wardstrip Primary School head teacher Rotona Girnna told The National that it was the largest primary school with 3,262 students.
He said there was no way to expand the school but to maintain existing facilities and re-develop the school library.
“We cannot expand the school as we don’t have enough space.
“We can only maintain our classrooms and library,” he said.
Girnna said the school was following the Government’s free education policy.
But he said while the Government was calling for quality education, it should also consider providing teachers quarters as most teachers were living in settlements.
Girnna said as a public servant, he could only plan, budget and implement Government policy.
“I will just see whatever was given to me, budget and plan for it to cover the whole year,” he said.
“With the minimum resources, we try to ensure quality comes out of that.” He also explained that they had no water supply issues after an arrangement was made with Eda Ranu with some payments made.
Gordon Secondary School deputy principal administration James Hape said they expected 1,600 students to enrol.
He said the free education policy was good on the condition that the Government was up-to-date with its quarterly payments.
“When we depend on the Government’s free education policy and when the funding comes in late, the school gets affected,” Hape said.