Marists are present at four sites on the PNG mainland - Wewak, Yangoru, Burui and Madang. Further information about each of these sites will appear on this page in the near future.

 

St Marcellin Champagnat High School at Burui was inaugurated in 2004 on the site of one of the original boarding primary schools in the East Sepik. In 2005 it will complete its enrolments and become a Year 9 and 10 high school. The educational emphasis will be on providing a good formal education for those students who are able to succeed in that area whilst providing good practical education for those students who will return to village life.

It is a co-educational school supported by a community of young Melanesian Brothers. At present, it is housed in some old primary school buildings and some classrooms made of bush materials. This is a school in its establishment phase and the challenge will be to form partnerships with Non-Government Organisations and development agencies to bring the facilities of this school to a level which does justice to the educational needs of students in this very remote area on the Sepik River.

 

Burui suffers from an unreliable source of drinking and sanitation water. A recently completed project has created a fresh water system which helps the students in their day to day activities.

 

Located on the way to Burui and inland from Wewak, Yangoru is a central Sepik Village. The local High School has among its staff three Melanesian Brothers who bring a feeling of stability and peace to the place. The school is quite well developed but the Brothers rely on us for assistance with curriculum materials and some computer equipment.

 

Most teachers in PNG find it difficult to prepare teaching materials, keep track of student marks and maintain the administrative capacity of the schools. The job is no less demanding than in Australia but they have very few of the tools such as computers or printing facilities. The Educational Resource Centre project will set up five remote area facilities with trained operators to give teachers access to what we take for granted. We are helping them to “cross the digital divide”.