‘No classroom, go home and wait’

Grade one students enrolled at Daru Chalmers Primary School in the South Fly District of Western Province arrived excitedly for school this morning, only to find themselves without a classroom.

Dressed in their bright yellow and red uniforms, the children arrived at the school grounds, eager to begin their day.

However, after roll call, they were turned away due to the lack of classroom facilities.

This situation has persisted for two weeks since the start of the school year.

NBC News visited the school this morning and observed that, despite the enthusiasm of these young learners, there is still no visible classroom structure available for their use.

Parents were encouraged to help the school set up a temporary makeshift classroom for the first-grade students while awaiting the TFF funds to construct a new classroom to accommodate the three first-grade classes.

The shortage of school buildings highlights a significant issue in many small towns and remote areas, where educational facilities are insufficient.

School Chairman Michael Enau informed NBC News that they have allocated funds for a new first-grade classroom. Once the TFF funds are received, they will construct the new classroom.

"We have received the first payment for the TFF component; however, it is still insufficient. Therefore, we will have to wait for the second payment to arrive before we can begin acquiring the materials needed to construct a new classroom,” Enau told NBC News.

As authorities work to address these issues, it is crucial to act swiftly to ensure that all students have safe and appropriate environments for learning.

The situation in Daru highlights larger issues within Papua New Guinea's education system, where many children lack essential resources for learning.

An urgent P&C meeting will convene this Friday to address the issue, as parents are already frustrated and have expressed concerns that classrooms should have been constructed before the start of the academic year.