Hela’s Komo, Koroba and Pori get secondary status

HELA’s Komo, Koroba and Pori high schools recently obtained their secondary status after 10 years and are set to take in their first grade 11 intakes this year, an official says.
Education services director Ronny Angu said the Komo Day High, which was upgraded to secondary, would give access to the Komo-Hulia students who usually attend Tari Secondary.
“The St George Koroba High, then Koroba Secondary, which is a Catholic Church-run institution, will be accessed by people who fled from tribal fights in North and South Koroba and are settling at Koroba station,” Angu said.
“Koroba has a secondary school which is far inland and due to tribal fights, many students can’t attend and usually travel out of the province or to Tari Secondary to continue grades 11 and 12.
“Pori High School, because of its isolation, many students look outside but they can now continue from grades nine to 12, it is a relief to students.”
He pointed out that the elevation of the three schools signified a pivotal movement in shaping the human resource of the province and was a milestone achievement in fostering quality education. Angu revealed that the three secondary schools would also look into Flexible Open Distance Education for students to upgrade their grades of which Komo had already started its first enrolment.
“Last year the province was on the eighth placing with its grade 12 results, 41 grade 10 students were selected to national high schools and the number is expected to double this year,” he said.
He said that the number of students in a class must not exceed 30, complying with one teacher to 25 students ratio to ensure quality teaching and learning.
He urged everyone to protect the schools and take them as a lifetime investments as their natural resources like oil and gas would one day deplete but the development of human resource would improve poverty and sustain livelihoods.
“The communities should appreciate change and shift focus from tribal conflicts and invest more into the education of their children,” he said.
Angu thanked education secretary Dr Uke Kombra, Teaching Service Commission, school registration committee and the provincial leaders for this milestone achievement.