The Regional Member for East New Britain Province, Michael Marum has committed to build an access road to connect the remote Yalam Primary School in the rural Lassul Bay LLG of Gazelle District to the rest of the province.
Mr. Marum also committed several Tuffa tanks for the school.
The neighboring Komgi primary school also received building materials for a new three-in-one classroom.
He made the commitments after having trekked the bush tracks for more than five hours to reach the school and the near by community.
Yalam Primary School Head Teacher Chillen Wailipe briefed the East New Britain Provincial Government delegation led by Mr Marum that teachers abstained from taking up postings due to its remoteness.
He said the school was in dire need of teachers as six of the nine positions are still vacant.
Locals usually take a five-hour walk from the Raunsepna transit to Yalam community where the school is situated.
“The bush tracks that you’ve trekked to reach this school is the reason why most teachers do not come here. Our superiors also do not visit us. Our school does not receive school inspectors or even education heads,” Mr. Wailipe said.
He further pleaded with the Provincial Member to connect the community and school to the outside world via a proper road.
“We are doing all we can to keep this school running. Our students are mostly from this area and most have no contacts with the outside world so it’s always a challenge in the classroom,” he said.
He further stated that Yalam Primary School is still trailing behind in delivering lessons in the classroom, as teachers would travel for hours to access telecommunication network to download teaching resources or make calls.
“We are still cut off from the rest of East New Britain province and even the entire world,” he said.
In response, Regional Member Marum said that he has taken heed of their plight and assured that a road is top priority to ease access of services to the area.
“I’ve trekked this route and know the struggles that the community, Church and school is going through. We’ll be meeting with stakeholders in the provincial government to have this road fixed,” he said.