Improvements to school infrastructures to enable better delivery of teaching and learning will contribute to quality education for students like for young Silas Kelre, who wants to grow up to become a lawyer one day.
Young Silas comes from the Galowe area in central inland Pomio district of East New Britain province and attends the Palmalmal Secondary School, which is one of the schools in the province that has reaped the benefits of infrastructure development.
The facilities Silas uses were made available through a K3.5million Australian Government grant in 2017.
With this funding, Palmalmal Secondary School constructed eight new classrooms, two science laboratories and an ablution block for day students.
New scientific equipment and learning resources were also purchased.
“The science labs have a lot of equipment for us to use and do experiments during our science classes. I’m learning a lot and with this new building, a lot is done every day making us learn more,” said Silas.
For Silas and the 903 other students at the school and 31 teachers, the new facilities have transformed their experiences at school and helped meet the standard set by the National Department of Education.
Since the new facilities were opened in 2019, students’ academic performance has improved. Palmalmal Secondary School Deputy Principal, Ludwick Kampukia, who pushed for the infrastructure improvements, was a former student himself and is determined to see his students excel.
“Our history students performed very well in 2022, taking out the number one spot in the province rating.”
“Our Economics students came in second place and our Business Studies students are also doing very well.”
“That is through the conducive learning environment and the impacts of the new facilities.”
“Most of the buildings are old, built in 1975 when the school was established.”
“Having the science lab and eight classrooms in one building is a facelift in terms of infrastructure.”
“It also changed the mindset of kids in terms of discipline, giving a new environment that is welcoming to students.