Marape announces secondary status for Wingei School
In their thousands, villagers from two districts gathered at Suanumbu Village in West Yangoru to witness the guest of honour, Prime Minister James Marape, declare Wingei High School to Secondary status on Thursday.
On March 5, 2026, at Suanumbu Village in West Yangoru LLG, Prime Minister Marape declared the newest secondary school for the Yangoru Saussia District in East Sepik Province.
Thousands from villages scattered throughout West Yangoru LLG and neighbouring Yamil Tamaui in Maprik District converged on Suanumbu Village to witness and celebrate the short but exciting history of the school.
Established in 2020, Yangoru Saussia MP Richard Maru said the school's academic performance was the deciding factor in its upgrade to a secondary school.
"This is a historic year, within 6 years transfer from junior high school to secondary… because of the school's academic excellence."
The State Minister responsible for International Trade and Investment proudly stated that the Yangoru Saussia District Development Authority had spent K7 million since the establishment of the school. The results have seen it become one of the top performing Grade 10 examination schools in East Sepik, despite being “the newest”.
Prime Minister Marape, who flew by helicopter to Suanumbu Village and landed at Kalagaim accompanied by four State Ministers, gave the national government's undertaking to fund the late Education Minister Jimmy Uguro’s K1 million funding pledge to build the science laboratory, along with an additional K2 million for school infrastructure.
He also challenged the students with these words:
"Do not let the value [of education] down… Wingei Secondary has the full support of the national government," the Prime Minister said before opening the classroom built with funding from the Maprik District Development Authority.
Maprik MP Libert Kapris said the funding from the Maprik DDA for the 4-in-1 classroom, officially opened by Prime Minister Marape on Thursday, was a gesture of appreciation to the people of Yangoru Saussia.
"Mi kam sanap hia long rausim sam blong ol papa na mama blong Yamil - Tamaui LLG."
Mr Kapris was reflecting on the lack of financial support from the Maprik DDA since the establishment of the school, despite students from his district attending the school for their high school education.
Wingei Secondary is situated on the district border of Yangoru Saussia and Maprik, educating students from West Yangoru LLG and Yamil-Tamaui LLG of Maprik.
Since the pioneer Year 10 students sat for the national examinations in 2021, the school has maintained a top-five high school ranking in East Sepik Province.