by Bridgette Komatep – EM TV, Port Moresby
Four primary schools in the Moresby South Electorate are either suspended or need urgent maintenance to their toilets and ablution blocks.
Local MP and Sports Minister, Justin Tkatchenko, said an Education Audit Report by Minister Kuman, revealed that K70million was spent on schools in Moresby–South but there was nothing to show for it on the ground.
These schools include Koki Primary, Butuka, St Francis and Sevese Morea Primary School.
The Minister visited one of the affected schools yesterday.
Sevese Morea is one of the oldest schools in the Moresby South Electorate. Over 800 students attend this school but during a recent visit by the local MP and Sports Minister, Justin Tkatchenko, it was empty as classes have been suspended for three weeks now, since it was condemned and closed by NCD Health Inspectors.
Minister Tkatchenko visited the school and met with the School Board of Management and representatives from Eda Ranu.
It was revealed that over 1500 students from both Primary and elementary use these two ablution blocks to relieve themselves. After hours, the staff and their families also use the same sewerage system. This has resulted in blocked toilets and blocked sewage system, which has forced the school to be closed for three weeks.
Minister Tkatchenko was furious that despite so much money spent on schools in his electorate, they remain rundown and in dire need of maintenance. He said it was not his responsibility to fix school toilets and sewage systems as it was the responsibility of NCD Education.
He was frustrated that his Office had to cover –up for millions of kina allegedly misused by those in the system.
He has committed to resolve the problem so that the school can re-open next week.
The Minister also made similar commitments to Butuka Primary School and Elementary for contractors to demolish the existing ablution blocks and rebuild new ones. Elementary students are forced to use pit toilets in the city’s school. However, to date, nothing has been done due to funding constraints while NCD Education remains silent about the whole issue.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=GgysVmwVwH0%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
