The New Erima Junior High School in the city of Port Moresby recently graduated a total of 408 students comprising of grade 8s and the school’s pioneering grade 10 students.
Principal of the Junior High School, Mrs. Dorothy Lapun, congratulated the 309 grade 8s and the 99 grade 10s, saying their achievements came through hard work to succeed.
She also remined those who will not be selected to do grades 9 or 11 next year, that there are always other pathways such as the Technical Vocational Education & Training (TVET) that they can pursue their education through, and it’s not the end of the road for them.
Mrs. Lapun also acknowledged and congratulated New Erima Primary School Headmaster Mr. Yalo Kipungi. Under his leadership, they implemented the 1-6-6 curriculum structure and created some good changes to the school’s infrastructure through good financially management this academy year.
In addition to the expanding of the school to a Junior High School, the number of teachers is expected to increase next year. Mrs. Lapun said the total number of teachers this year is eighteen (18) and from 2025 onwards, the number of teachers will increase due to the increase of classes.
“Extra six to eight teacher positions are vacant in school, since the school will have a total of seventeen (17) classes next year.”
In addition, next year grades six (6), seven (7), eight (8 and nine (9) will be taught by Junior High School Teachers.
Meanwhile, the school’s vision is to introduce grades eleven (11) and twelve (12) in the coming years. She said if they have enough number of students to create one or more classes of grade eleven (11), then they will do so.