School partnership between LLGs, MP produces results

THE partnership between the Hagen rural local level government and Hagen MP William Duma has produced good results for schools in Hagen Central, Western Highlands.
The Hagen rural local level government, as the third arm of the government, gave priority to schools by funding double classrooms, a teacher house and gave K175,000 to schools there recently.
That complements the assistance given to the schools by Duma, who is the Minister for Petroleum and Energy.
Last Monday, Duma gave over K2 million, plus school uniforms and books to the schools.
Deputy Governor Wai Rapa said the future of the country “is based on education”.
He said that he and his councillors believed in education as a way to develop their community, district, province and the country.
He said since many children in Hagen Central were going to school, the LLG did not want to sit back and expect Duma or the provincial government to build infrastructure and provide other help to the schools.
He said in 2009 they funded a double classroom each for the Ogulben, Kelua No. 2, Komkui, Eplga Primary Schools and built a teacher’s house for Minimb.
Rapa, who is chairman of the Wamp Nga Group of Companies, which is owned by the Nebilyer, Anglimp and Hagen rural LLGs, said the following year, the Hagen Rural Council gave K20,000 each to Koge Namba and Kogulamp Primary Schools.
He said last year, the council gave K25,000 to Kagamuga Primary School and K20,000 each to Tega, Kokop, and Kerebuk Primary Schools.
On Monday, they gave
a computer set to the Ta­rangau Primary School.
He said later this month they would present another K20,000 to Mt Kuta Primary School.
Rapa said the money used to help the schools came from their internal revenue like the gate-takings from Hagen market, rentals from the stalls built in front of the Chimbu, Goroka, Lae and Madang bus stop and dividends from the Wamp Nga group of companies.
He said this year their development budget was K1 million and they would give more help to the schools while looking into other areas.
Assistance secretary for education in the province Joe Yaga said last Monday education standards in Hagen Central and the province had improved dramatically.
Yaga said that students in Grades 8, 10 and 12 last year had performed well in internal and external examinations.