Water, sanitation problems force school to shut down

By EREBIRI ZURENUOC
A SECOND primary school in Lae has been closed indefinitely by health officials because of water and sanitation problems.
The 1118 students of the Gantom Primary School in Lae district were sent home yesterday.
It followed the closure of Huonville Primary School, also in Lae, on April 16 for similar reasons.
Senior health inspector Paul Lejuwom said Gantom needed to meet certain requirements before students were allowed back in.
He said the school would be closed “for an indefinite period” until the water supply and toilet problems were fixed.
“We had a meeting with the school administration and parents and notified them of the issues. We acted on the Public Health Act which clearly requires sanitary facilities to be in good condition,” he said.
“The school administration and parents have to restore the toilet facilities and water supply.”
Lejuwom said the school was issued the first notice two weeks ago although a complaint had been made in 2010.
“The school closure should be a warning to education authorities and the board of management of all schools in Lae,” Lejuwom said.
“We will not have mercy on schools that do not (comply with rules).”
Head teacher Martina Tanialu said the closure should be a wake-up call to everyone.
“This has been an ongoing issue for many years,” she said.
“We know the (problems) that we have not been addressing over the years.”
Teachers’ representative Cletus Niniabai said the problems began in 2006 but had been ignored.
“Parents, teachers and school management of this school must be responsible for what has happened. We saw (the problem) but ignored it.”
Meanwhile, Tanilau blamed the cut in tuition fee free funding for their woes.
“We have not been receiving the amount required to run the school,” she said. “The amounts the school received are insufficient. Most times, payments come in late. For this term, the TFF grants the school received was only K19,500.
“Most parents pay support fees really late, or some delay payments, and it has affected the work of the administration.”