Basic materials, facilities and most importantly teachers are needed in remote schools like Bisiatabu Primary School just outside Port Moresby.
Bisiatabu Primary School, is Papua New Guinea’s first SDA church established school, and is nestled high on the mountains of Central Province’s Sogeri plateau.
The School was established in the late 50’s and 60’s after the war and similar to remote schools around the country comes with its own fair share of challenges.
Headmaster, Roger Zega expressed concerns that the school, although having a decent population of 231 students starting from elementary to grade 8; it is dire need for teaching staff.
“Bisiatabu has only four teachers who multi task in teaching the educating the student population. Two teachers teach the lower primary while the other two teach the upper primary.”
He said that teachers are teaching composite classes and the strain is taking its toll on the teachers.
He expressed concerns also on schools facilities especially the classroom which were built during the war and are currently beyond repair.
However, thanks to the Digicel PNG Foundation, we were given two brand new double classrooms which have kept most of our students in class and aspire to move forward.
Zega said last year alone, the school had up to 50 of its students to continue to high school and undergo the TVET program.
He called on the new governor elect for Central Province to look into remote schools in the province as well and see the dire need the schools are facing where the children’s education are concerned.