By Lucy Kopana – EMTV News, Lae
Lae Secondary School celebrated the opening of new staff houses over the weekend, despite the financial instability experienced by schools across the country.
Principal, Christopher Raymond, said this was made possible through the hard work and commitment of parents in paying support fees. Mr. Raymond said this was one of his aim to ensure new infrastructures were built for both teachers and students in an effort to improve the school’s performance.
“If the teachers are taken care of properly, then they can more or less do what is expected of them properly as well.”
He said that although the government was not delivering the Tuition Fee Free (TFF) funds on time, the school has been collecting K300 from parents, as approved by the Provincial Education Board (PEB). This enabled the construction of the new staff houses.
“The school and the management must be seen to be making use of the money that has been collected”, Raymond said.
Member for Lae, John Rosso, who attended the event to officiate the opening, commended the school board, management and the principal for building units despite the financial difficulties faced with the TFF.
“If you manage what little you have, and manage it wisely, then these are the results.”
The four new two-bedroom staff units cost more than K700,000 to construct.
