Institute grateful for water tank

THE Kandep district development authority has installed a new water tank in a technical and vocational school to address its water issues.
Andait Technical and Vocational Education Training manager Frank Angan said the authority funded almost K1 million for the rehabilitation.
He is expecting more students to enrol this academic year.
Angan said last year 76 students enrolled but due to unavailability of tools, rundown facilities and the impacts of the Covid-19, more than two thirds of the students withdrew.
However, 23 students successfully completed training in motor mechanic, carpentry and agriculture.
“One of our biggest issues was having a reliable water supply and now we are fortunate to have a Southern Cross tank funded (by the authority) under the leadership of Alfred Manase,” he said.
Angan said water was essential for any school and now that the issue was addressed, they would work on rebuilding the mess, dormitories and workshop.
He said the school was established in 1982 by Apostolic church missionaries but was in a poor state because of tribal fights and election-related violence in the area.
He said in 2015, Enga Governor Sir Peter Ipatas gave almost K200,000 with a vehicle and a portable saw mill to the school to help rehabilitate it.
“The funding was insufficient and the school closed until 2019 when the authority stepped in,” he said.
Angan said the centre would offer a fishery course this year.
The school has a 20KvA generator with plans to upgrade other facilities.