School opens new doors to classrooms

 STUDENTS at the Kolem Elementary School in Finschhafen, Morobe, are excited about the opening of a K140,000 double classroom funded by the Digicel PNG Foundation.

The facility comes with two classrooms, an office with solar power lighting system, 20 desks, a 5000-litre water tank and two pit latrines.

Headmaster Etap Gemotang thanked the foundation for funding the new facility which would “greatly enhance the learning environment”. 

“We are extremely privileged to be the first school in the area to benefit from the foundation’s education infrastructure development programme,” Gemotang said. 

The school has been using three rundown classrooms made of bush materials. 

“The new classroom has not only enhanced the teaching environment but also motivated students. It shows the community the opportunities available if there is community ownership at all levels and good governance at the highest levels in schools,” he said. 

The school has been catering students from the Kolem, Kalawa, Simbang and Bullawang villages for more than 40 years. 

Foundation chief executive officer Beatrice Mahuru said they were privileged to be a part of the history of the locality.

The foundation has to date funded 410 community-based projects in 22 provinces and reinvested K42.5 million into marginalised communities that has had a direct impact on more than 300,000 people.