By Vasinatta Yama, EMTV News – Mt Hagen
Kaipale Primary School in Sirunki, Enga Province hosted a five-days school show to entertain the locals and maintain peace in the community.
The school has invited guest speakers from the Provincial Government and Education Department to make awareness on the importance of education.
This event was the first of its kind to be held in Enga Province. The main purpose of the week-long school show is to address tribal fight in the community. It has a small population of about 1500 eligible voters; however, the community is over populated with people from other parts of Enga Province, who have escaped tribal fighting in their own communities.
A local from the Kaipale area, Charles Bannah, who is also the Provincial Works Manager, urged his visitors to adhere to the community’s way of living, and not to try to bring their tribal fight into Kaipale.
Bannah also urged little children to study hard to bring back development into their communities. The show started with fire making. Senior students taught juniors about traditional fire making. Some were dressed up in traditional attire, while some dressed in tree mascots. Many of the acts performed by students at Kaipale Primary School were to educate their parents, and locals to look after the environment.
Sirunki is one of the most fertile areas in Enga Province and PNG, and is beginning to produce home grown strawberries and potatoes, which are being sold in shops locally.
Enga Provincial Government rep, Dr Steven Kikala, urged locals to stop tribal fighting and make use of their fertile land to earn income. The EPG committed K20, 000 to the school to continue hosting school shows to address tribal fighting.
Whilst a library was also opened during the school show, the show ended with showcasing of youngmen, who were initiated into manhood.
