Papua New Guinea rugby league stars, Paul Aiton and Garry Lo paid a surprise visit to Kumbaia High school to celebrate the school’s first ever Grade 10 graduation ceremony yesterday.
All the attention was given to the star rugby players, who were accompanied by Aiton’s wife and mother.
Aiton and Lo gave motivational speeches to the graduates and youths; Aiton encouraged students to have a goal and vision and work hard to achieve them.
‘Mi play rugby na burukim bun tasol mi play yet bicos mi gat wanpla bikpla driman,’ Aiton said.
Pioneer Grade 10 students of Kumbaia High school located on the outskirts of Western Highlands Province, graduated with flying colors.
After the graduands settled in at the sitting arena, there was a roaring crowd building.
Aiton attended the graduation because Kumbaia High School is the first upper secondary school to be built in his mother’s village, in the mountains of Nebilyer district.
Aiton had also supported the constructing of the school by donating funds to complete the classrooms.
School Principal, Robert Plak encouraged the graduands to work hard, have self-discipline and respect for others to prosper.
Plak told the guests from the Provincial Government and the Education Department that the school had received K145,000 in funding from the Tuition Fee Free Policy.
He said more work needs to be done to grow the school as there is only 5 teacher’s houses occupied by some teachers with 3 more houses incomplete.
Plak said teacher’s pay needs to be addressed to keep the teachers from running away so that students can benefit.
Kumbaia High school has a student population of 500 grade 9’s and 10’s, with only 8 teachers.
Yesterday, 248 pioneer Grade 10 students graduated with their attainment certificates.
