Reform calls for new classrooms

EDUCATION

PROGRESS on the elevation of a primary school in Madang’s Bogia District to a junior high school is gaining momentum.
One more community neihbouring the school is preparing to build an extension of the school to cater for Grades 3 to 6.
In order to enable the Mikareww Primary School, which has been enrolling students at Grade 3 level to begin enrolling only Grade 7 students, communities in three wards of the Yawar LLG where the school is located, have established extension schools.
Two of these have already been operational while the third is on its way. The delay is establishing an extension of the school in Ward 21 has been due largely to the unavailability of land for the purpose.
Discussions have been going on for some time among the communities to allocate a suitable plot of land for the school.
As the 2024 school year was about the begin, the Mikarew community decided to go ahead with the clearing of a site allocated by a family. The ground preparation has already started with the help of community leaders David Ikema and Jonathan Zuasa.
The Mikarew Primary School will also cater for neighbouring communities, Igos and Iruari.
Due to the growing population, the community took the initiative to extend the primary school in order to cater for the future generation.
At this stage, the Mikarew village and the two neighbouring communities have a student population of 80 to 100 intakes for Grade 3 annually. This figure of new intakes will now be settled in the school extension is completed. Without further delay, the Mikarew community allocated a plot of customary land to build classrooms with bush material for grades one to six under the new 3-6-6 education structure.
For years Mikarew Primary School has succeeded in producing many graduates who have gone one to serve the country in various fields in the public and private sectors.
From the early years to the advent of the education reforms, the school has been in operation.
Also, it has been quite challenging because of poor road conditions and lack of access to basic government services resulting in neglect. Due to such challenges, many teachers posted there have refused to teach there.
However, the communites have been working hard to ensure their school keeps operatng and not always relying on the Government.
With an growing population and a shortage of land, the community now recognises the importance of education as the only way for them to change their way of living.
With this positive view, the entire community put their efforts and cooperated well in order to be part of the new education policy.
Mikarew is among a number of primary schools established by Catholic missionaries in Bogia district before Independence.
It will join other schools like Bosmun, Manam (care centre) and Ulingan to become junior high schools in this part of Madang.

• Story and pictures supplied by Constantine Ruarri from Catholic Theological Institute, Bomana.