Students celebrate double classroom

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Wednesday 5th September, 2012

STUDENTS at Hawai Primary School, in Manus, celebrated the opening of a double classroom last Thursday.
The double classroom costing K95,000 is similar to those given by the Digicel Foundation to schools in Huon Gulf district, Morobe.
It was opened at Hawai Island last Thursday.
The Hawai Island community has had difficulties in the past in educating their children because there is no primary school.
Their school-aged children had to travel by boat for 10 minutes to Dilou Island to attend school and during rough weather the  journey was often very dangerous.
This problem was addressed in 2005 when the island community opened its own primary school with the approval of the Education Department.
The opening of the new double classroom has greatly helped community efforts to educate children on the island.
“We are grateful for the education our children have received since 2005 in our humble bush material classrooms and the incomplete community hall,” head teacher Michael Chapau said.
“Each year, we receive the annual school subsidy from the education department but an investment of this magnitude in our community is the first of its kind.
Our teachers, students and their parents and the greater Hawai community cannot express their thanks enough,” he said.
Digicel PNG Foundation chief executive officer Marina van der Vlies said: “As with most rural schools that Digicel Foundation has invested in, Hawai primary has had its fair share of challenges, but its students, teachers and community are resilient.”
“Their commitment to education as a community is exemplary, making the most of the single biggest opportunity education.
 We thank Hawai Primary School and the Hawai Island community for your partnership and we wish you continued success.”