Gerehu Primary school, A level 8 school in the heart of Port Moresby has become a sad sight with no new infrastructure in the last 4 years.
This was the concern raised by the Gerehu Primary School Parent and Citizens Representative, Mr Smith Yamanavan.
Mr Yamanavan told PNG HAUSBUNG that they have written countless letters and petitions to the school Head teacher, the school board, the Department of Education, NCD Education Services and the Teaching Service Commission to act promptly to save Gerehu Primary School from the deteriorating infrastructure that is a health hazard and unsafe for teaching and learning.
“Our children are sitting on the floors, classroom floors have holes, blackboards falling apart, students resorting to school oval for toilets as all current toilet blocks are closed.”
“Teachers and their families are currently living in the school offices and use the school facilities as their own.”
“The teacher’s families have dug a pit toilet that they use while students are sent home because there are no proper toilets for them to use.
“The School administration and the board are refusing to meet with parents so the parents are not aware of this issues happening in the school.”
“In my son’s classroom, they found used condoms and teachers’ families just hang out their laundry anywhere in the school.”
“We are worried that the health department might close the school if they do inspect the school.”
Mr Yamanavan said that they had a meeting at the beginning of the year where parents tried to raise issues but the Head Teacher brought in Police personnel who had an altercation with parents.
He said that parents have requested to know what is happening with school funds since the school doesn’t have resources for teachers to use for teaching.
Yamanavan said the Head Teacher is hardly at the school and is turning a blind eye to what is happening at the school.
The P&C Representatives called for a meeting for Sunday, 21st May 2023. However, when they tried to deliver a letter to the school regarding the meeting, the Head Teacher cancelled the meet saying telling the reps that it was illegal access to the school.
Mr Yamanavan is making a call to the authorities to step in and do something about the school and replace the Head Teacher as well as the school board so they can move forward.
“We are concerned that the school is not a conducive learning space for students.”
Meanwhile, this newsroom’s attempts to get a response from the Gerehu Primary School administration via the Head Teacher have been unsuccessful thus far.