High-performing school in a tragic condition

Paglum Adventist Secondary – the school that is said to have given prominent figures such as Prime Minister James Marape, Professor John Nongorr and retired captain Paun Nongorr a head start in life – is currently in dire straits.

Located a few miles outside of Mt. Hagen City in the Western Highlands Province, Paglum Adventist Secondary School is one of the oldest mission-run institutions. The remaining infrastructure goes back more than 70 years. And during that period, there were no records of government intervention, according to school officials.

The school has experienced gradual decline to date and now faces a huge infrastructure challenge, while students live in very unsanitary conditions in their dormitories and use severely dilapidated sanitation facilities.

Both male and female student hostels are in a very sorry state with students fetching water from buckets to bathe and wash clothes while toilet pits have been dug near the fences for their relief.

More classrooms are needed as the majority of teachers live in rented houses or in their own homes far away, making it difficult to get to school on time in the morning.

However, despite these daunting challenges and problems, the school ranked first in 2023 and was the best performing secondary school among more than 200 other secondary schools in Papua New Guinea.

According to Principal Freddy Pennigton, Paglum was ranked 14th in 2020, 8th in 2021, 3rd in 2022 and 1st in 2023 by the Waigani Department of Education’s Measurement Service Unit.

Educated elites such as Prime Minister Marape, Prof. Nongorr and retired Captain Paun Nongorr are among many other highly educated people who make significant contributions to the country. They all founded and built their foundation at Paglum Adventist, in the same classrooms and dormitories that are now in a terrible state of disrepair.

Unlike other high schools in the country that are vocal about their needs, Principal Pennington said, Paglum Adventist has never had time for it. Instead, it remained true to its unique commitment to producing the best minds and workforce for Papua New Guinea.

It was just the right time for the Post-Courier to visit the school on Sunday and discover the true struggle of the students and teachers there, which, according to various reports, goes back decades.

Western Highlands Provincial Member Wai Rapa also visited Paglum Adventist Secondary School during the school’s Grade 9 graduation ceremony and was saddened to see the hidden challenges the school was facing.

“We trust in God and will continue to follow God’s leading and serve this country despite the difficulties we face,” said Principal Pennigton.

He thanked the Western Highlands Adventist Mission and the Western Highlands Provincial Education Division for the support they were able to provide the school.

Paglum Adventist Secondary School plans to enroll 300 of the 200 students this year, but how it would accommodate them is now the big question facing the government and respective authorities. Mr Pennington also mentioned Prime Minister James Marape’s commitment to early support for Paglum Adventist Secondary School