Morobe school hopes to raise K1 million to build classrooms for growing population

Education

By EREBIRI ZURENUOC
A PRIMARY school outside Lae is hosting a fundraising event to raise K1 million to build a new double-storey building of eight classrooms to cater for the growing population of school-aged children in the communities.
Christ the King Catholic Primary School at 11-Mile will be hosting a corporate sales expo and school variety show event on Oct 6.
Head teacher Celestine Kinminja said the main purpose of the event was for the school to have more classrooms so that students would not get turned away.
“The school is a small level 4 mission-run school established by the Lae Catholic Diocese in 2003. We have been serving the student population of our neighbouring communities of 9-Mile to 14-Mile, including Markham Bridge and Nadzab communities. “Since establishment, the school has graduated 12 lots of grade 8 students.
“There has been an increase in enrolment each year, however, we have only one existing eight-in-one building, which accommodates seven classes and a staffroom.”
Kinminja said that this year alone, the school had a huge increase in enrolment from last years’ 288 to 441, which highlighted the need for additional classrooms.
“The school has enrolled an extra class of grade 3 because of additional container classrooms which were donated by HBS Company last year,” she said.
“Our fundraising drive is aimed at raising K1 million towards the building. This is so that we can accommodate students, give opportunities to at
all kids from within our communities.”
Kinminja said the Government’s tuition fee-free policy was not enough to carry out impact projects for the school and that was why management was looking at alternative revenue-raising measures.
“The school also has other planned projects such as poultry, vegetable farm and school canteen to support the school in the future,” she said. Fundraising committee vice-chairman Schofield Mutum said the event was a one-off major fundraising drive for the school.
“We invite corporate bodies and individuals to be part of the show by registering their interest to participate,” he said.
“A contribution of K1000 is a pre-requisite to set up stalls on the school ground. This event gives organisations an opportunity to exhibit, advertise and sell their products to the general public.”
Mutum said the show would be held before the Morobe show, “which gives organisations an early start to promote and market their products before the show”.