Slowly but surely is what these year’s crop of senior teachers at the Gerehu Primary School are hopeful for when it comes to the academic performance of its students at the end of each academic year, especially this year 2021.
The COVID-19 pandemic has inflicted an academic disorder in almost all schools across Papua New Guinea with disruptions to mid-year classes and teachers were forced to pull the weight of an extra load of lessons, and remedials for their students.
“Coaching classes for senior students are not new for Gerehu Primary School. We have done for the past years; but coaching was intensified last year and this year due to disruptions brought about by COVID-19 pandemic,” said Senior Subject Master (SSM) for Upper Primary Mr. Walter Imo.
The government has been commended for aiding schools by allowing a one-week term break for term two holidays for the purpose of catching up on missed lessons in the third term with an extra week added.
Some schools if not most, utilized the one-week break to run coaching lessons and remedials for their students sitting examinations this year.
Six dedicated and result-driven Grade 8 teachers from Gerehu Primary School volunteered their time and effort during the one-week term holiday to run coaching lessons for their grade eight students who will be sitting their examinations at the end of this year.
SSM Mr. Imo said the teachers were driven by the fact that they wanted to see their students excel and achieve their dreams in advancing further in their education.
“We are always focused on the learning of our kids – we signed an oath as teachers to serve our students and devote our time and energy to focus entirely on their academic achievement,” said Mr. Imo proudly.
“This year is no different – we will ensure most of our students get a place in a higher institution. And that has been our primary focus and it will always be.”
Gerehu Primary School is an average school in terms of the academic performance of its students and slowly but surely, the dedicated teachers have started to assist in their little way to bring the school up a notch each year.
“We have a team of teachers who have spared no effort in always trying to match Gerehu Primary with some of the best performing schools around the country. Gerehu Primary will rise to where it rightfully belongs. It will take time, but it surely is coming,” said Mr Imo with confidence.
Mr. Imo told this newsroom that the school is looking forward to engaging more students on the weekend with more remedials when they get the blessings from the school administration.
“We want to include weekend remedials as the final examinations near. We have notified the administration and await their approval before we commence our extra weekend classes.