The Tonpar primary school situated in the hinterland of Malala in ward 25 of Almami LLG in Bogia District of Madang province on Saturday, February 7th received a major boost with the delivery of a brand-new Lucas Mill and financial assistance from the Governor for Madang, Ramsey Pariwa.
The Tonpar community staged a rousing welcome with their popular "Dabol" traditional dance to receive Governor Pariwa and his delegation who arrived by helicopter to the school which is inaccessible by road.
Interestingly, two vehicles purchased last year by Governor Pariwa made history as the first ever to reach the remote Tonpar Primary School ahead of the Governor’s arrival when they travel along the bush tracks which were expanded and maintained specifically to allow one of the vehicles to deliver the Lucas Mill to the remote location.
The Lucas Mill, purchased at a cost of over K61,000 from Farmset Limited in Madang, would be a huge boost for the school in cutting and processing timbers to build new classrooms to aid children’s learning and also build houses to accommodate teachers.
In addition to the sawmill, Governor Pariwa also presented a cheque of K10,000 in financial assistance to Tonpar Primary School to support the school’s development plans.
Governor Pariwa urged the school administration and community to make full use of the new mill to improve infrastructure and create a better learning environment for students. He also encouraged them to share the Lucas Mill with other cluster schools in the area as well as health posts and churches in the Malala hinterland so that more communities can improve their living standard.
Governor Pariwa also urged parents to offer their trees freely to the school to get timbers in order to build new school facilities.
"I challenge parents to give your trees for free so they can be cut to obtain timbers to build new facilities for the school," Governor Pariwa said.
“This support must not stop here. Use this mill to build your classrooms and teachers’ houses and help other schools, health posts and churches as well,” he added.
Mr. Pariwa challenged the school board and management to build a new double classroom within the next three to six months and invite him just to come back and cut the ribbon.
Teaching Services Commission officer, Kenneth Kalai, in his address at Tonpar thanked Governor Pariwa publicly for always inviting him to travel with him to remote schools to see for himself the plight of teachers who are particularly under his jurisdiction.
Mr. Kalai said Governor Pariwa is truly a people-oriented leader who listens closely to the cries of his remote people and responds favorably to them.
Tonpar Primary School Board Chairman, Charles Okin, when receiving the new mill, thanked the Governor for what he described as timely and much-needed support.
“This is a huge support that the Governor has given to Tonpar Primary School,” Mr. Okin said.
"The school was established 17 years ago but we still have 3 teachers in school and several incomplete classrooms and bush material teachers' houses," he added.
Ward 25 Member, Anton Kirarka, heaped praise on Mr. Pariwa as the first-ever Governor of Madang Province and even a MP to physically set foot at Tonpar which is on the ridge of the Adelbert Range.
Mr. Kirarka urged the community to work together to ensure the mill is properly managed and used in positive ways that will benefit the school and future generations.
The assistance reflects the provincial government’s ongoing priority to improve education services and standards in remote parts of Madang Province.
