School graduates students despite fight

By ELIAS LARI
A COMMUNITY school in Jiwaka that has not functioned well for seven years because of tribal fight conducted its 22nd Grade 6 graduation last Friday.
The Bonong Community School in North Waghi electorate did not run its operation well because of tribal fight and conflict between the locals.
Teachers and staff did not feel safe to teach and could not stage proper graduations.
However, last Friday, parents and teachers saw 23 Grade 6 students graduate with certificates.
It was a breakthrough for the teachers and the community to witness because they never thought it would be like this.
Locals described the graduation as a change and promised to put aside their differences and work to develop the school.
Board chairman Nelson Akis said the school had not received its subsidy.
Akis said this was the first graduation held without any problem.
“I want to thank the parents, teachers and students for making this schooling year become a success,” he said.
“This is a big achievement we have made from the rundown school that did not function well for the past seven years.
“Our effort and dream has finally come true because we have been trying very hard.
“And, now, finally this graduation has taken place and was a success,” Akis said.
Community leader Peter Ulup praised the teachers for their tireless effort to develop the lives of people.
“We have to give education our first priority so that it can become the focus area to bring in wealth and resource in to our community.
“I have been telling people that we have to bring up our human resource so that it can help in the nation’s development,” Ulup said.