By MICHELLE AUAMOROMORO
WARABUNG Primary School was the recipient of the most expensive 4-in-1 classroom in the entire Yangoru-Saussia District of East Sepik.
The classroom was co-funded by the Japanese Government and the Yangoru-Saussia DDA under the leadership of Hon. Richard Maru and it was officially opened on Tuesday, May 3.
“My most sincere appreciation to the people and the Government of Japan for the funding of K200, 000 that made this project possible,” said Maru.
“They (the Japanese) were here (in the district) 70 years ago during the second world war and many of our people looked after their people.
“Many of our people lost lives as a result of supporting the Japanese forces and its only right and fitting that the Japanese Government invest in our district,” he said.
DDA co-funded the project with K240, 000- K200, 000 for the building and K40, 000 for the tables and chairs.
“Warabung Primary School, you have received a 4-in-1 classroom for K440, 000; this is the most expensive 4-in-1 in the entire Yangoru-Saussia district,” he said.
The Japanese Government funded the project under its Grassroot Human Security project.
“Through this project, the government of Japan is pleased to support the efforts of the Papua New Guinea Government to improve the education sector,” said the Deputy Chief of Misision (DCOM) of the Japanese Embassy Sinichi Maruo.
The project started in 2016 and took about five years to complete.
“This was due to many challenges including lack of funding, poor cost estimation and escape of original contractor,” and Maruo.
“Despite these challenges, the local MP Richard Maru contributed an immense amount of funding to make up for the shortfall.
“Local communities also contributed labor to complete the building.
“Therefore, I would like to express my respect for the efforts of all those who were involved in the project,” he said.
The new classroom was an addition to two other classrooms that the DDA had invested to the school.
“Prior to the investment in this 4-in-1 classroom, the district, under my leadership invested in two classrooms and a staff house,” said Maru.
“So, in total, Warabung Primary School, you have received six classrooms and a staff house from the DDA,” he said.
Maru called on the teachers and students of the school to not take advantage of the investment but to use them to improve their academic performance.
“We are not investing in the classrooms just for the sake of investing in classrooms; I want quality and I want academic performance to improve in this school” he said.
“This is a very big investment; investment goes and results must come,” he added.
