Christmas has come early for St Joseph’s Bitapaka Primary School in the Bitapaka LLG of Kokopo, East New Britain province.
Philanthropist and East New Britain’s charity queen Dame Sandra Lau announced at the school’s graduation last Thursday that she will rebuild the school.
Bitapaka Primary, like many other schools in the province, has all classrooms beaten by weather and termites.
The school infrastructure, including five double classrooms and the administration building will be pulled down and rebuilt during the Christmas holidays in preparation for the 2023 academic year.
This will cost Dame Sandra and Tropicana Limited more than K800,000 to rebuild the school.
She told all those gathered that she will provide all the building materials needed to rebuild the school while the villagers provide labor.
We have less than three months. I will provide all the building materials needed to rebuild the school and you all must provide labor. We must all work together to rebuild the school in time for the students to resume classes in 2023.
Dame Sandra
At the occasion, she also presented three cartons of reading books to the school.
She encouraged the graduating students to have a goal in life and work towards that goal in their academic journey.
Dame Sandra, a strong supporter of education and health, also reminded the students not to indulge in unhealthy lifestyles, including diet.
She said for students to develop healthy brains and minds, they must also eat healthy and think positively. She encouraged them to take care of themselves during the Christmas break and work hard to support their families and themselves in future.