First Gr 9 intakes for new school in Mendi

 A NEWLY established school in the Mendi-Munihu district of Southern Highlands will see its first Grade 9 intake this year.

Surrounding communities are working hard to have the facilities ready for the start of the term.

Four teachers have been posted to Kip High School and the Yonwim, Yonhunpi, Wong and Pongra sub clans are now refurbishing teachers’ houses. 

Community leader and Kip Primary School headmaster Raphael Tonpi told The National that every member of the community was working for free as they needed the high school.

He said construction of buildings took place in Dec 2013 after Governor William Powi proposed the new high school.

“Sixteen hectares of land, half belonging to the United Church and half to the local people, was given free for the development of the school,” Tonpi said

 “The new high school will benefit thousands of people living in the districts of Imbonggu, Mendi-Munihu, some from Nipa-Kutubu and even those living at Kandep in Enga.” 

Tonpi said Powi had given K600,000 for the construction of classrooms, dormitories, dining hall and teachers’ houses.

He said the Southern Highlands provincial education department would give 80 desks and a generator.

Alom Mal, a village elder, said their students had faced hardships in the past years when they were selected for Mendi High School, a day school, and they faced accommodation problems.

“Those who had relatives were lucky while those who did not had to squeeze their children in squatter settlements which in turn affected the students’ learning. Town means money and we could not afford food or other essential items every day,” Mal said.