Rural school struggling to get by

By PISAI GUMAR
MY heart hurts as I look into the eyes of these innocent students and I see nothing but only struggles and pains.
These were the words from Solomon Nalong, head teacher of Ziangkeh Primary School in Mumeng, Bulolo, Morobe, talking about his students.
“They (students) are hoping and praying every day for someone to come and inspire them to prosper in education to achieve their dreams,” he told me.
Nalong, assigned to his post at Ziangkeh Primary last Nov 8, learnt that in the school’s 11-year existence, none of the students had ever gone passed grades seven and eight.
As the 2020 academic year resumes on Jan 27 for teachers and students in Feb 10, this is the sad tale that unfolds from the cool, misty mountain tops of Zenag – a school neglected for 11 years that has students sitting on the ground under a kunai-thatched roof.
The lack of learning facilities and teachers’ houses will likely affect students this year and that has left Nalong uncertain about the students’ future.
He said he dreaded the thought of what might happen if things did not change so he decided do something to expose the plight of Ziangkeh in order to attract attention and get outside support.
“I really feel sorry for the future of these kids,” he said, pausing to clear his throat as the emotion of his story took its toll.
“With the problems the school is facing administratively, things are not right.”
With information from locals, Nalong learnt that Ziangkeh was supposed to be developed into a major school in the area.
However, that had not eventuated.
“I will be held responsible for negligence as the head teacher, custodian and administrator of these children if their learning is disrupted in 2020 and beyond,” Nalong said. “I am prepared to face the challenges ahead.
“However, education is the Government’s responsibility and I am merely a custodian, therefore, it is the Government’s responsibility to provide me adequate support and resources to address the dilemma.”
Zenag villager Joseph Yana, who is the landowner of Vuiphu land that allocated a 4.16ha of land to build the school, said the current plight of Ziangkeh is akin to the dilemma he experienced during the colonial days attending Banakwa Mission School at Old Mumeng station.
“After 35 years, my grandchildren are still sitting on the ground under thatched roofs to get educated,” Yana Yana, a retired serviceman (army administration clerk), in his late 60s, said.
“Not so much has changed for the better despite changes in curriculum.” The school is visible from Minister for National Planning and Monitoring and local MP Sam Basil’s residence along the main Bulolo Highway.
After nine years, the school
has no permanent learning
facilities such as classrooms, an administration office, library, teachers’ houses and other infrastructures.
Ziangkeh was a government agency school established in 2009 by local educationist and veteran primary school teacher Ephraim Kiwia.
The main issues that needs urgent attention from authorities is its low literacy rate and classrooms, teachers’ houses, water and electricity supply, school fencing, students ablution blocks and a sewerage system.
Out of the 63,000 people in the Bulolo, 70 per cent are illiterate while 25 per cent educated – but only four per cent of that are educated to a degree level or higher.
However, there are only two other primary schools – Mumeng and Zepa (Zenag-Parakris) – which has resulted in overcrowding and other related issues.
If these issues are not solved, it could most likely force teachers to leave.
Currently, parents and the school board have built classrooms out of bush material.
The school has a new board which has been active in identifying issues affecting school and looking for ways to addressing it.
It has six teachers from Balob and Nazarene teachers colleges led by Nalong, who has 13 years teaching and five years administrative experience.
But the lack of proper learning facilities leaves the resumption
of the 2020 academic year in doubt.
Last year, the school had 344 students enrolled with a staff of nine teachers and expected its student population to increase.
The projection for 2022 is 432 students with 12 teachers.
The teacher-student ratio is 1:25 and it is likely to have two classes for each grade and requires five additional teachers regardless of the need for new infrastructure.
Total enrolment in 2020 will experience influx of students hence infrastructure development is of greater and desperate need to accommodate students and teachers.
Nalong and Yana hopes still remain on the State to provide the much-needed support the school needs in order for the children in their corner of Bulolo can have a decent chance at education.