Stranded Goilala teachers airlifted home after 6-month ordeal
Governor for Central Province Rufina Peter this morning chartered three Air Sanga flights to return a group of stranded teachers and their families back to various Local Level Governments [LLG’s] in the Goilala District, ending a six-month ordeal.
The teachers, who serve at various remote schools in Goilala, had travelled to Port Moresby in Term 4 of 2024 for administrative duties.
Unfortunately, due to delays in school subsidies and lack of funding, they were unable to return to their schools and remained in the city, staying with friends and relatives while waiting for support.
Jeremy Tamatai, Education Coordinator for Goilala, expressed gratitude to Governor Peter.
“Goilala is one of the hardest-to-reach districts, especially when it comes to delivering social services. It’s often forgotten. When you consider that one-way airfare for a teacher is about K1,000.00 and many travel with families, it becomes an expensive journey.
“We are thankful to Governor Rufina Peter for stepping in and assisting us financially. We truly appreciate this and look forward to working closely with her office.” said Tamatai.
Deputy Head Teacher for Ononge Primary School, Michael Ome, further explained that the teachers came down from their respective schools in good faith but were caught in a difficult situation.
“We came down for administrative runs as is the custom, but due to financial constraints and delays in subsidy release, we became stranded. We’ve been living with relatives and friends since.” Ome said.
Governor Peter used over K49,000.00 in funds that the Central Provincial Government has budgeted for in the 2025 Budget to assist teachers and health workers in rural areas to pay for the teachers return to their locations of service.
Meanwhile, Governor Peter and her administration signed a K500,000.00 Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] with the Rural Airstrip Agency [RAA] on May 16, 2024, to improve rural accessibility.
The agreement aims to rehabilitate eight remote airstrips across Central Province.
Feasibility studies have already been completed, and the total cost for the rehabilitation and upgrade of the selected airstrips is estimated at K3 million.
The Central Provincial Government has allocated initial funding to maintain and upgrade a few of these airstrips.
However, full implementation will require the continued partnership and support of RAA and potential donor agencies.
It is anticipated that necessary funding will be secured soon, allowing work to commence on all eight (8) identified airstrips located across the five districts of Central Province.
These developments underscore the Governor’s long-term vision of improving rural connectivity, not just for education, but for economic activities like coffee and cocoa trade in Goilala and other remote districts.