The Porgera Secondary School in Enga has taken delivery of a revamped science laboratory building made possible by Barrick (Niugini) Limited (“BNL”), operator of the Porgera gold mine.
The school’s twenty year old science laboratory was fully renovated with standard specific science laboratory equipment ordered from Australia and fitted.
BNL through its Community Projects section - Tax Credit Scheme, undertook maintenance and renovation of the building at a cost of K170, 000.
The funding comes under part of Porgera Joint Venture’s (PJV) K1.1 million contribution toward supporting the school’s infrastructure enhancement program, after it was elevated from high school to secondary school status last year.
BNL Tax Credit Scheme (TCS) Superintendent, Derick Kundi officially handed over the building key to Porgera Secondary School Deputy Principal, Timothy Mendai on Friday 25th August at Paiam.
The handover was witnessed by grade eleven Accounting teacher Benjamin Masol and PJV TCS Project Superintendent, Bruno Sapataleh.
Kundi explained that the renovated science laboratory together with the planned maintenance of the school’s recreation hall and a new computer lab were all under PJV’s K1.1million funding component.
“We are aware of the requirements of the National Education Department, to have a proper science laboratory for students to use now that the school has been elevated to secondary status and so we tried to deliver this project as efficiently as possible,” he said.
Mendai said having a proper science laboratory for the grade eleven students was a real need for the school.
“Science provides the foundation for any science oriented field, either in biology, physics or chemistry and to have proper learning facilities is very important.
“We are very fortunate and on behalf of the school I am very thankful to PJV for this assistance,” he expressed.
PJV TCS Project Superintendent, Bruno Sapataleh appealed to the school to look after the building and equipment and for the school administration to stress to the students to value these assets.
The overall upgrade of the Porgera Secondary school is being funded through a Tax Credit Scheme component totaling K8 million.
It is being undertaken in two phases; the development of new infrastructure and maintenance of existing ones.
Kundi said all new buildings for the project will be pre-fabricated off –site. A 30-32 week project duration is scheduled for each TCS project for the Porgera Secondary school once contracts have been awarded to undertake works.