Karakara Junior Day High School infrastructure crisis deepens in South Fly

The ongoing struggle for quality education in Western Province's South Fly district has taken a dramatic turn, with parents of Karakara Junior Day High School students rejecting the school's temporary plan to address the crippling lack of classrooms and teachers.

The controversy began on Monday when parents took to the streets, protesting the school's unpreparedness for the new academic year under the 1-6-6 policy.

Yesterday, they gathered at the school premises, determined to find a solution. The school administration, backed by the South Fly education board, proposed a temporary plan to use lower primary classrooms for grade nine students while distributing grades 4-6 students to other four primary schools in Daru.

However, parents were not happy, arguing that this plan would severely disrupt the learning environment for primary students.

"This is not a solution, it's just shifting the problem," one of the frustrated parent said.

The parents have presented two alternatives to the Provincial Administration to send the 320 grade nine students to Balimo High School or fund churches to accommodate them, allowing lower primary students to remain in their own school.

The funding issue remains the core of the problem. The contractor responsible for building new classrooms claims to have received only half payment, and is unwilling to proceed with construction until the outstanding amount is settled.

Parents are resolute in their demands, having given the administration an ultimatum.

"Our children deserve better," parents' spokesperson Jerard Gumoi said. "We'll continue to fight until we get a proper solution."

The outcome of yesterday's meeting with the Provincial Administrator is eagerly awaited, with parents prepared to take further action if their demands are not met.