Parents and citizens of Kokun in Ward Six of the Trans-Gogol Local Level Government (LLG) in the hinterlands of Madang district celebrated the opening of a new double classroom and a teacher’s house last Friday.
The Ward Six community invited the Governor of Madang Province, Ramsey Pariwa, to officially open the new facilities, which were built at a cost of approximately K100,000. The funds came from monies the people contributed from their betelnut and cocoa sales.
Governor Pariwa praised the efforts of the parents and citizens who joined hands in contributing funds to build the new double classroom and the teacher’s house. He also acknowledged the outgoing headmistress of the school, Ms. Hege Totap, a local woman from the Ward Six area who dedicated her time and effort to making sure the facilities were completed well before the commencement of the 2025 academic year.
Pariwa took the opportunity to explain to over three thousand people who gathered that he does not agree with the timing of the new 1-6-6 reforms in the education system because schools still lack the infrastructure to accommodate the increased number of students. Furthermore, he said when student number increases, it would require more teachers in the schools, and they would need more teachers’ houses.
However, he said people have no choice but to go along with the new reforms, but they must take the initiative first, like the people of Kokun who built the school facilities using money from their cash crops. He said that is a huge achievement for them.
In recognition of their efforts, Pariwa committed K50,000 to assist Kokun Primary School.
He said the government alone cannot do everything, and such initiative taken by the community will greatly assist the government in providing basic services.