Rural school marks 50th anniversary

Located several kilometres outside of Central Province, a remote school in the heart of Kairuku district commemorated its 50th Jubilee Anniversary.

Avabadina Primary School was established in the late 60’s and 2017 marks its 50th Silver Jubilee.

Housing more than 500 students, starting from Grade 3 to Grade 8, the students celebrated in style as parents and teachers, as well as residents in the surrounding districts, joined in on the fun.

Avabadina’s board chairman, Victor Maggio, said it has been a long time coming for the school in terms of funding and infrastructure.

Maggio said the former governor for Central Province gave K150,000 for the renovation of some of the classrooms and school equipment, which has improved the classroom standard over recent times.

“Before that as well, we had received some help from the European Union who erected two brand new teachers’ houses.”

The Australian Aid also played an important role in donating two more classrooms and a new house for the head teacher, including a set of ablution blocks for the students.

Maggio adds that despite some of the school’s most recent challenges of funding needed for their daily running, it has produced some of the country’s finest public servants since its establishment.

Some of them have been donating in cash and kind back to the school, he revealed.

“A good example would be the new fence currently put up surrounding the school premises. The fence comes 50 years later, making this the first time the school has outlined its boundaries.”

Avabadina’s main challenge is getting their teachers good benefits.

“Seeing that this is a small school in a remote area, we need to guarantee our teachers that we can provide them with good and clean water supply, power supply and health services for them to adapt and stay to teach the children.”

Maggio called on the current provincial government to look into this issue and to help in solving some of the school’s challenges, as this was the only way children can be able to get the much needed quality education.

Author: 
Annette Kora