“We started using the bridge in April this year when construction was completed and the bridge opened and in September, the bridge collapsed,” stated Mr Gwae, Headmaster of Bayune Lutheran High School, Bulolo, Morobe Province.
Bayune Lutheran High School is one of three post-primary schools in the Bulolo district which caters for almost 700 students in the area, as well as the greater Morobe Province.
A small river runs between the school and the main road and when there is rain and flooding, the river is impassable.
“In 2018, the Morobe Provincial Government budgeted around K300, 000 for a foot bridge for the school.”
A private contractor was contracted to build the footbridge and it was officially opened in April, 2020.
However, after only 5 months in use, it now sits partly submerged in the river following flooding that damaged a section of the bridge.
Being the only passage for students and teachers to safely cross over the river, the destruction of the footbridge has had its toll on the remainder of the 2020 academic year for Bayune Lutheran High School since.
Teachers and students are currently using bamboos as a makeshift bridge to connect to the section of the footbridge that is still accessible.
“Right now, part of the bridge is submerged under water. When it rains, we are completely cut off. We instruct the students not to take the risks. We suspend classes, we inform the authorities and we tell the students to go home.”
So far, the member for Bulolo Sam Basil gave K40, 000 for the maintenance of the bridge and the money has been paid into the Bayune Primary School account.
However, repair works on the bridge has not yet started to date.
“We are planning on fixing the bridge during the Christmas holiday.”
“It won’t be as good as the one that was constructed, but at least something students can use to cross over to the school.”
Picture sourced: Austin Polin