By John Pangkatana
US ambassador Teddy Taylor and PNG Education Minister Theo Zurenuoc opened two high school projects worth K2 million in Namatanai District, New Ireland Province.
What was significant of both occasions was that both Tanir and Nasko High School openings were done back to back in the remotest parts of the province.
One of the highlights included the pledging of K1 million each for both high schools.
New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan opened the new Tanir High School near the Amfar Catholic Mission, situated amongst the Tanga group of islands.
The huge occasion saw the islanders of Tanga and Anir celebrate with traditional dancing and feasting.
The occasion saw 67 pigs slaughtered for the huge occasion.
It is a huge turning point for the Tanir people, who now don’t have had to send their children over the high seas to the Lihir or Namatanai for secondary education.
The tour party then boarded Provincial Government boat MV Akalei back to the mainland to Huris to overnight at Sir Julius’s Manmantinut residence.
The following day the tour party flew over the southern Namatanai ranges to Nasko on the West Coast of New Ireland for the second high school opening.
It was another huge occasion, which prompted Sir Julius to say that he is encouraged by the high level of co-operation and attendance by the islanders from Tanir and the communities from the Konoagil local level government.
“Such openings of two high cost projects back-to-back is a remarkable event especially in remote communities of New Ireland,” Sir Julius said.
Giving relief to school children in outlaying islands and rural areas towards gaining higher learning at their door-steps has given Sir Julius personal satisfaction in fulfilling the Malagan Declaration.
The declaration states, “We will invent the future out of our imagination rather being victims of our past and however rich or poor, weak or strong, no-one shall be left behind in the development of New Ireland and its people.”
It was also the first visit of the Education Minister and US ambassador to that part of the country.
Via Post Courier.