Maprik Secondary School lacks proper mess facilities for its students.
The school does not have proper kitchen to prepare meals either.
For years, the school has been using an outdoor cooking area made of bush material as a kitchen, raising food hygiene concerns.
The messing facility at Maprik Secondary School has deteriorated over time.
The facility can only seat a maximum of 500 students. The rest of the students have to sit outside.
Preparing meals is also a burden as students have to prepare their own meals in a makeshift kitchen.
That time could be instead spent on their studies. However, they are left with no choice as the paid cooking staff leave at their own timing.
Senior Teacher Mrs Goretty Faik has witnessed this deteriorating trend with grave concern.
The school was established in 1971. It is a level 9 school with a student population of over 1, 000.
As the biggest school in Maprik District, it caters for students from Maprik and surrounding areas.
Mrs Faik said tuition free education has put a strain on the school’s infrastructure.
The classrooms are overcrowded, with over 50 students to one teacher in a class. Even the water supply needs urgent attention.
Student numbers are expected to increase in the coming years and Mrs Faik hopes these issues can be minimised now to prevent further problems.
