Parents build K70,000 classroom

MOROBE’s Bumbum Primary School in Leron/Wantoat, Markham, recently launched a K70,000 three-in-one classroom building funded by parents.
Bumbum Primary is located in the hinterlands of Leron/Wantoat, where road condition are deteriorating, but the school administration and parents managed to build a classroom worth K70,000.
Head teacher Gedien Mengat highlighted that the school was established in 1969, and since its establishment, it has been funded by parents.
Parents have built four teachers house, and two classroom buildings, a double and three-in-one classroom.
Mengat said parents have looked after the school well because they know that through education, they would see development in their area.
“We need four more classroom buildings and seven teachers’ houses,” he said.
“We are lacking curriculum materials, even though the GTFS (government tuition fee subsidy) money is not enough.
“That money cannot support our rural schools.”
Meanwhile, Morobe Governor Luther Wenge after noting the challenges the school head teacher highlighted, committed a four-in-one classroom for the school which would be funded by the provincial service improvement programme (PSIP).
Wenge commended the parents for taking ownership and the initiative to fund and build the classrooms as well teachers houses, and advised them to continue doing it.
“The country would only progress and develop if people themselves took ownership, and not the Government,” he said.
“In 1975, we pledged to be self-reliant, which means people have to take the lead in development, and when they cannot, the Government comes in.
“You believe in education and therefore, you have constructed the K70,000 building.
“I am happy that you have taken the initiative.”