FREE education has increased the number of students, but without providing sufficient facilities for a conducive environment to study, says Nomane High School principal Lucas Mo.
The grade nine and 10 students are sent to a nearby creek to drink water during school hours and some sit outside to do tests and exams.
This is because there is no water supply in the school and not enough classrooms.
Mr Mo
Nomane High School in Karimui-Nomane, Chimbu, got its first group of Grade Nines in 2020.
Mo said the school had been operating as a primary school but due to geographical issues and the distance to the nearest high school, they decided to have grade eight students who continued to grade nine and 10 in the school.
We are struggling with the limited resources available.
We are improvising with what we have because we don’t want to disappoint the students as they are cooperating with us and showing interest despite the limited infrastructure.
We have 411 Grade Nines and 10s, unfortunately, we are only able to accommodate 200.
Mo
Mo said they have asked students near the school to live at home and come to school.
Due to the geography of the place, students walk three to four hours to school every school day.
It is really sad but it is beyond our control.
Mr Mo
He said they have three grade 10 and two grade nine classes.
Mo said they were also struggling with staff housing.
We were initially assigned 12 teachers by the Chimbu education authority.
But we have eight due to housing problems.
I was given K100,000 by the provincial government in 2021 and that money was used to build four staff houses which are in use.
Mr Mo
Mo said another K100,000 allocated by the district last year was used to build a girls’ dormitory which is underway.
We are hoping to secure enough funds to at least build a proper mess for the boarding student.
The students are served outside and they sit on the grass when having their breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Mr Lucas Mo