Free education relief for rural parents: Teacher

Bomai Primary School board chairman and care-taker Kola
Tangi in the remote Karimui-Nomane district of Chimbu.
– Picture courtesy of JESSY SIMON

By LULU MARK
THE decision to bring back free education is a big relief for people living in the remote parts of Papua New Guinea but if only teachers can stay fulltime to teach their children, Kola Tangi says.
Tangi is the board chairman and caretaker of Bomai Primary School in the remote Karimui-Nomane in Chimbu.
It is the only primary school that serves more than 3,000 people of four council wards in the Karimui local level government.
“It is really difficult for people here to make money to pay for school fees because we are in the bush,” he said.
“Everybody has gardens and so we cannot sell our vegetables. It’s a long journey to town for us.
“We are thankful to the Government for the free education.
“The school was closed in June due to tribal fighting but we hope that teachers will come back because the fight has ended.
“With the free education, I will try my best to ensure that teachers return.
“It’s a village school with not a lot of students so there is just one class for each grade.
“Usually, we don’t have all the six teachers on the ground but the available teachers have ensured that the school continues.
“The school has around 250 students and, in a year, 20 to 30 students pass out from grade 8.”