School makes room by converting buildings

By ABEDNEGO KURWA 

THE free tuition fee policy has opened flood gates to students pouring into schools, causing overcrowding situations and stretching schools to the limits.

The Kitip Lutheran Secondary School located in the Dei district of Western Highlands has come up with an arrangement that is working out well for them in addressing overcrowding.

The school board resolved that, all the lower secondary students (Grades 9 and 10) would become day students and only the upper secondary (Grades 11 and 12) be allowed to become boarders

However, principal Robert Kauna said the decision did not go down well with parents and stakeholders but after discussions they all had to agree for the good of the students.

“Education is a right and students will be allowed into the classrooms but the dormitories and the mess are privileges where the board has to decide who uses it given the current situation,” Kauna said. 

The school, instead of putting up new buildings, has engaged a contractor from Chimbu in lifting the existing classrooms (on posts) and covert them into two storey buildings at half the actual cost to cater for the increasing number of students. 

Two of the six classrooms have been lifted and the contractor is now working on the third classroom.

The school board and administrators are looking into putting up student dormitories and teachers houses if there is fund available. 

He said at present both teachers and students were bunking up at their respective residential areas.

Board chairman James Maip and the Kauna also acknowledged the local Dei MP Wesley Nukundi for his recent announcement to build a double classroom and a two-storey dormitory.