by Mickey Kavera – EM TV, Port Moresby
Incomplete teachers housing and classrooms give an insight into the crisis facing Morata Primary School.
The school has been left high and dry by contractors, who failed to complete these projects.
The six teachers’ houses were a commitment from NCD Governor Powes Parkop; however, the project remains incomplete, with the contractor nowhere to be found.
Much of the school’s infrastructure was built in the 1980’s. The only development was a double classroom, built in 2002.
The school board claimed that three contractors recently submitted claims to the Education Department for the funding of a new double classroom. Headmaster Philip Tiki has warned Secretary for Education Dr Michael Tapo not to entertain these false claims, as there is no justification.
Student numbers have also increased to 17,000 this year, with a teacher to student ratio of one teacher to 70 students.
Tiki says the new double classroom would have solved this problem; however, there is nothing on the ground.
The school has 29 teachers, of which only one resides on the school premises. The staff houses, if completed, could have saved the life of a teacher killed last year. Tiki describes the situation as corruption and wants immediate investigations, carried out by relevant government agencies, into the plight of the school.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=5dPNkvUH-3Y%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
