Montfort school receives new toilets

By Richard Kelebi

Students and teachers of Montfort Primary School in Daru, Western Province, recently celebrated the opening of a new ablution block for both male and female students and teachers.

The opening was a colourful event as students put on various performances including the traditional “Kiwai” dance to mark the day.

The project was jointly funded with Papua New Guinea Sustainable Development Program Ltd (PNGSDP) contributing K172,900 and Daru Montfort Primary School providing counterpart funding of K18,000.
A delegation from PNGSDP was among several guests who witnessed the opening ceremony recently.



Students performing a dance infront of the new ablution block.



The new ablution block is a significant project for the school as it contributes to improved hygiene and sanitation. It also helps the 468 students to remain in school, instead of leaving the school grounds for toilet visits.

The school’s headmaster Mathew Pinim, the school’s board chair Lucy Morris and members of the school’s board expressed gratitude to PNGSDP.

Robin Koria, the Deputy Chairman of the School, said such a facility contributed towards an improved learning environment.

“Many students have passed through this institution and did not have the privilege to use a decent toilet facility and now fortunately the present students will benefit from the use of the new toilets. Students can now stay in the school premises full time during the teaching hours without running home and into the bushes in the back of settlements where they reside,” he said.

The new toilet block is timely. In 2010, the Cholera outbreak claimed many lives and all schools on Daru Island were closed as communities were cautioned into proper hygiene practices while the local health authorities with the support from others, including PNGSDP continued efforts in controlling the spread of Cholera.

Lawrence Stephens, PNGSDP’s Program Manager for Community and Social Investment Program (CSIP), expressed delight in opening the toilet block as proper water and sanitation on Daru Island is an ongoing concern for the company.

“PNGSDP has been particularly concerned about the condition of sanitation on Daru. The health problems likely to occur and some of them have occurred as a result in the way in which large numbers of people have gathered here, and the system of dealing with human waste is inadequate for the number of people who need it...PNGSDP is prepared to do more. But we need your support, and your encouragement and your questions and your challenges and you being prepared to work to help yourselves so that we can work with you,” he said.

After the speeches, the visitors were led to the new facility where the building was blessed by Fr Chris Diau. Ms Iabomai Ataia, PNGSDP’s program Officer, did the honours of cutting the ribbon, followed with the opening of the facility by Mr Stephens. The new facility is fully tiled, has ample storage space and contains five separate toilet cubicles for both male and female students.

The PNGSDP representatives later presented the school with gifts such as board games, posters and books on hygiene, a biography of PNGSDP’s former director the late Sir Ebia Olewale and the company’s annual report.
The day ended with more dancing.