Parents show appreciation for school upgrading

PARENTS of students from a remote primary school in the Yelia local level government of Obura-Wonenara, Eastern Highlands have shown their appreciation for their children’s education by supporting the upgrading of the school.
A teacher at Andakombi Primary School Kude Kol told The National yesterday the parents supported the school management to construct a four-in-one classroom which was officially opened on June 5.
“During the opening of the classroom, education officials said our primary school would eventually become a high school,” Kol said.
“The villagers who attended the opening were happy to hear the good news.”
Kol said the parents and school management were ready to build another four-in-one classroom over the next 18 months before 2021, the proposed date of the school’s upgrade to high school status.
He added that two teachers’ houses were completed this year.
The Yelia LLG does not have a high school to cater for grade eight students from its seven primary schools.
They include Andakombi, Asakumdi, Sindeni, Simbari, Marawaka, Wioyobo and Aziana primary schools. Grade eight students from these schools get selected to Tairora High School located in Tairora-Gasup LLG of Obura-Wonenara district, and Asaroka Lutheran, Okapa and Kainantu Secondary Schools.
Kol said the parents wanted a high school in Yelia because of the distance from Tairora High School and three secondary schools located in other districts.
“We will need funding support from the Government to prepare the school’s infrastructure for the high school status in 2021,” he said.
“We have local contractors who are still willing to help, we have sawmills machines and we have parents and the community who are ready to provide timber.”
Local MP Mehrra Kipefa said according to the district’s education plan, two primary schools – Andakombi and Wioyobo – in Yelia had already been selected to transit to high schools.