By Grace Auka
An incorporated landowner group that owns the land where the Passam National High School is in Wewak, East Sepik province, wants to know when money for rebuilding infrastructure will be released.
Group chairman John Fakiwi said the school had closed last year and they believed the government had provided funding but it was yet to be released to the school.
“We just want to know when exactly these funds will be released,” he said.
“It has taken us eight months waiting for these funds and as we are approaching the general election and issuing of writs next week, respective members of parliament with the officials of the education department have to notify us on the releasing of the funds.”
Fakiwi is calling on Minister for Education Theodore Zurenuoc and Minister for Finance and Border Development Don Polye to verify and have the cheque released on time.
Passam National High School was closed because students burnt down classrooms and administration buildings after a dispute with teachers.
Education Secretary Dr Musawe Sinebare said: “I am sure; however slow it may seem we will eventually have the funds released as soon as proper procedures have been followed.”
Fakiwi said he and his landowners had not been involved in the torching of school buildings.
“We just want the funds to be released so normalcy can be restored for teachers and students,” he said.