Surprise for remote school

By PISAI GUMAR
A REMOTE primary school in Transgogol, Madang, received a surprise visit and gifts two days after the 37th Independence anniversary from Australia-Papua New Guinea Lutheran education agencies coordinator, Collin Hayter.
Hayter and wife Ruth were in the country to visit Australian Lutheran congregation members involved in the development of Highlands and Mamose regions.
Hayter said the purpose of the visit was to observe living and working conditions of Australian Lutheran members, discuss progress and issues regarding Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea with Bishop Giegere Wenge and enhance the Lutheran education agency partnership programme in the country.
He presented 300 bags and a greeting card to Bemal Lutheran Primary School to ensure they worked to improve its school programmes and maintained friendship with its sister school, Peace Lutheran School in Gatton, Queensland, Australia.
“It was lovely to visit a remote school with lovely children full of smiles in their faces who stood up to show respect and greet us when we enter each classroom,” Ruth said.
She thanked parents for enrolling their children in school to learn so they could contribute to the development of the country.
“Keep praising God with all your hearts because He is the Redeemer who blessed the country abundantly with resources that require knowledge and skills to develop them,” she said.
Madang district education advisor John Kim encouraged parents, teachers and board to uphold Lutheran principles and enhance the friendship between Bemal and Gatton.
“The remoteness never hinders Bemal to reach out through educational activities with Gatton, in Australia. Bemal is privileged to have an educational exchange programme.”
After the friendship was initiated at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, in Madang, 11 teachers and students from Gatton visited Bemal in 2011. The Gattons will visit Bemal in Easter 2013.
Bemal was rated the top rural school in Madang district based on improvement of learning and teachers infrastructures as well as academic excellence in 2012.