Located on the border of Teptep and YUS LLG of Madang and Morobe provinces, Ozusage Primary School faces significant challenges in procuring essential materials for classrooms and teachers’ residences, according to Head Teacher Goyu Maine.
With a total enrolment of 298 students, the school requires an extensive effort to transport building materials from Lae Hardware stores to the mountainous location.
Despite its picturesque setting, the school struggles with logistical and financial obstacles in acquiring necessary resources.
Head Teacher, Goyu Maine told PNG HAUSBUNG that over K30, 000 is spent on purchasing building materials, transporting them to Goroka, and chartering flights into Teptep airstrip and the financial strain is exacerbated by the fact that a single charter flight costs the school K30, 000.
“The Morobe Provincial Government had given K200, 000 this year that we have used to built three new staff houses.”
This year, Ozusage Primary School has chartered four flights to bring in building materials for staff houses which illustrates the persistent challenges faced by the institution.
“We still need curriculum materials for the students and for infrastructure, we need more materials to build staff houses.”
Despite these challenges, the school has successfully completed four permanent staff houses for teachers.
“I have seven teachers in the teaching staff of which four teachers already have permanent housing and we are looking to start building three more permanent houses for the teachers who still reside in makeshift dwellings constructed from bush materials.”
Mr. Goyu Maine is from Ozusage village with 15 years teaching experience and has been the Head Teacher for the Ozusage Primary school for the past 3 years.
“Our primary school is level four but it has been elevated up to a level five school so our 2024 subsidy payments will be done as a level five school subsidy.”
“Resources books, exercise books and other materials for students to work with is a challenge that we face constantly.”
In addition to the logistical hurdles, the school contends with a shortage of curriculum materials.
Maine stated in an interview with PNG HAUSBUNG that Ozusage relies on outdated Outcome Based Education (OBE) materials for the new Standard Based Curriculum (SBC), as materials for SBC have not reached remote locations like Ozusage.
“When the Government introduced the OBE curriculum, the school had all the resources for it but now that the government has introduced SPC, it has been a struggle to teach the students.”
Students endure a journey of at least one to two hours on foot to reach Ozusage, situated at the top of a mountain with breathtaking views of Teptep station and Gangulut Health Centre.
“With this curriculum it is difficult to reach all the students so whatever little we have, we are using it with the help of the OBE curriculum to teach the students.”
Ozusage Primary School’s commitment to overcoming obstacles and providing quality education is evident in its accomplishments, underscoring the resilience of both educators and students in the face of adversity and the school continues to strive for excellence as it navigates logistical challenges and seeks to improve its infrastructure and educational resources.
Meanwhile Maine mentioned that he was grateful for the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program that has come into the school as it may play a big role for the school in the future.
“I’m happy with the Tree Kangaroo Conservation for bringing this program to the school and it’s good that they have made this connection so if we face problems in the future, we can go through TKC to seek funding from potential clients. “