NZ govt aids elementary school

National, Normal
Source:

By EVAH BANIGE

THE community at 2-Mile settlement outside Lae yesterday received assistance from the New Zealand government through aid agency NZ-Aid with funding for the completion of a classroom for its elementary school.
The 2-Mile Elementary School is a current feeder school to Haikoast Primary School located in the same area.
The elementary school has been getting help from parents of children attending the school to help with the building of a classroom.
The young children braved the scorching heat yesterday to welcome the New Zealand Deputy High Commissioner Rebecca Lineham to their school.
When the academic year began, the school faced a problem with classroom space because there was only one classroom that catered for a student population of more than 200 pupils and the other was incomplete.
Enrolment figures have been increasing annually, and thus, the need for more classroom space.
Ms Lineham was enthralled by the welcome she received from the parents, staff and students of the school.
She presented a cheque of more than K24,000 to assist with the completion of the new classroom.
She emphasised the importance of education, adding that there are so many chances in life when one works hard to achieve their dreams.
Board of management chairman Waesa Soten extended the school’s appreciation to the New Zealand High Commission for identifying the need and stepping in to assist them.
Mr Soten added that the funding from NZ-Aid would enable the completion of the classroom, connection of water, electricity, fencing and building of an ablution block.
Other projects planned by the boars include three new classrooms, a staff office, library and six teachers houses.
Headmaster James Lalo highlighted that the school had been plagued with financial constraints since its establishment in 2001.
“The funding from the New Zealand government is timely and marks the beginning of a new era for the school,” he said.