The Iarowari Secondary School in Central province remains an important part of Papua New Guinea’s history.
In the 1940s, it was set up as the School of Signals, to train Australian and American soldiers to become radio-men, during World War Two.
It was also the site that hosted the merging of the British Papua Constabulary, and the German New Guinea Police Force, to what we now know as the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary.
Iarowari Secondary is situated on the Sogeri Plateau, just two kilometres away from the Sogeri National High School.
Though it shares a common history with Sogeri National High, its establishment is of military significance.
It was a training ground for not only defence, but police as well.
The school is as old as the history of the Second World War in the Pacific.
Not many people know the significance of this colonial established institution.
Over the years, old dormitories, mess facilities and theater rooms were demolished, to make way for new developments. But, the foundation of those facilities can still be seen today.
In 1962, it became an all-boys high school and educated young boys from the Southern Region.
Central Province Governor, Kila Haoda, and principal lawyer, Loani Henao, are former students of Iarowari.
It became a coeducational institution in 1982, to provide educational opportunity to young girls in Central province.
In 2012, the school celebrated its 50th anniversary and this year, the school will be graduating its pioneer Grade 12 students. A sign that this historical site continues to be relevant, in its path to the future.
