Rigo school gets new building

By SIMON MOKOT
ST Francis Xavier Primary School, in Galeba, inland Rigo, Central, is the proud recipient of Australian government funding which has enabled the construction of new infrastructures under the joint Australia and Papua New Guinea initiative through the Department of Education.
The new infrastructure including a double classroom, a staff house and an ablution block, were opened on July 21.
During the opening the school board of management, teachers, parents and students expressed gratitude and appreciation to the Australian government for the timely assistance.
At the opening ceremony, board secretary Chris Bagere said the old classrooms and other school buildings were made of bush materials and the Australian government assistance has met the school’s need for better learning and teaching facilities. The new buildings are a major face lift for the school since it was established in 1974.
Bagere said: “To keep the school running professionally, the administration and the board must work hard to meet the necessary demands and expectations, and ensure accountability and transparency in its management.
“Education will rescue our community from economic and intellectual poverty and make us become better people.”
He also urged teachers to commit themselves fully in their duties saying, most of the students’ time was in their teachers’ hands every day from morning until afternoon.
“We expect one thing from you teachers and that is to transfer what the State has trained you in terms of skills and knowledge, to our children. A child has a dream like you teachers, so please fulfil their dreams by giving the best in teaching,” Bagere said.
He also thanked Randle Rimua and his team and Charlie Dibura from Rekari Enterprise for installing solar lights in all the school buildings.
“To have solar lights in such a remote school is a blessing from God and it’s a very big improvement,” he said.
He also acknowledged former Rigo MP Dibara Yagabo for building a road linking the community to the main highway in 1992. This road link has enabled easy delivery of building materials and other supplies for the school.
A representative from Governor Kila Haoda’s office, Varo Goumase, promised support the school with K10,000.
He said that the provincial government would fund the upgrading of the community’s feeder road.
Goumase also encouraged non-school leavers in the area to seek sponsorship from the office of the governor.