Middle Ramu school needs help

MOST schools in Middle Ramu, Madang, are located in the remote parts of the district along the Ramu River and the mountains towards Jiwaka’s Banz.
A new school, Sr Jane Frances Memorial High School in Missingi, is located in the remotest area of the district.
The school can only be accessed by river or by helicopter.
It is a new junior high school endorsed by the Madang education board.
The school is in its second term with its registration pending and needs basic infrastructure, curriculum materials, communication network, library books and administration materials.
The high school was set up as a result of increased enrollment at Aiome High School, which is the only oldest Anglican high school in the district.
School-aged girls are forced into marriage because there are not enough opportunities to further their education.
A sudden visit last year by Agriculture and Livestock Minister John Simon, Middle Ramu MP Johnny Alonk, Middle Ramu administrator, Madang education director, community development officers and local cocoa farmers to the school brought hope to the students and the Missingi community. But it has been almost a year since their visit and nothing has changed.
Most of the development in the school is supported by parents and teachers.
The only funding received has been from the Middle Ramu development authority.
The district development authority gave K20,000 to the school for the construction of its first double classroom.
Thank you for that.
A commitment for satellite communication was made by Simon during his visit, however, is still pending.
The school needs classrooms, a computer lab, science lab, administration building, basic tech building, dormitories, school mess, teachers’ houses, ablution blocks, power generators, school library, water supply, admin stationery and a steady satellite communication tower.
We are appealing to business houses and organisations to assist the school and the community with projects.
We are appealing to Bank South Pacific, Digicel Foundation, United Nations Children’s Fund, Save the Children, Care International and Steamships to assist us.
We are also appealing to our MP (Alonk) and the Education Department to help with fast-tracking the registration of the school.

Francis Saliau