School plans to build staff houses

By GLORIA BAUAI
SCHOOL fights involving Morobe’s Bumayong Secondary School have seen more focus on security and a decline in teachers’ welfare over the years, says principal Sarah Tapo.
“A total of 38 teachers’ houses need immediate renovation,” she said, explaining that some of the houses had deteriorated to the state where there were holes in the floor.
Tapo, who was deputy principal for 15 years before taking up the principal’s post in 2020, said deteriorating facilities were not an overnight issue.
“When cult and school fights saw a rise especially from 2012, most funds even those budgeted for other areas had to go towards security,” she said.
“The school had to assist police so they could continue patrols and monitoring the area, we had to also bring student casualties like stab wounds to the hospitals because the fights would happen within school campus.”
Tapo said while the whole school needed a face-lift, the teachers’ housing issue needed immediate intervention.
“However I cannot because it would cost the school millions (of kina) and our school budget cannot cater for this.
“So in my capacity, I have given the newly built principal’s four bedroom house to our single male teachers so they are around to support the school, while I remain in the deputy principal’s house.”
Tapo also said her focus had been on boosting student morale and behaviour, which was paying off with gradual change.