Students carry out education awareness in districts

GULF tertiary students carried out an education awareness in Kerema and Malalaua recently.
Team leader and third-year Papua New Guinea University of Technology student Benjamin Bal Jr explained that it began as a simple idea and led to students showing interest as volunteers to educate other youths in rural areas.
“We started off at the local high schools late last year,” he said.
“Most students did not understand the purpose of education except the fact that they were forced to study by their parents.”
Bal explained that because of this, he created notices that helped gather more students in town to volunteer for the educational awareness in the province’s rural areas.
“Our aim was to talk about the importance of education and its benefits, especially to grade eight-12 dropouts to go back to school as they are giving up too quickly and getting involved in illegal activities,” he said.
With support from the provincial health authority and the education division, the team of students were able to visit the big villages along the Hiritano Trans Highway, through Kerema town and beyond.
The team completed their final awareness on Sunday.