Located in Bisi Village along the Kikori River, approximately a 40-minute boat ride from Kikori Station in Gulf Province, Bisi Elementary School is the latest recipient of education infrastructure support under the Gas Resources Pipleline (GR Pipeline) Community Investment Program.
The project, managed by MRDC, will deliver a new double classroom and a staff house aimed at improving education outcomes in this remote riverine community.
Bisi Primary School currently serves close to 180 students, supporting a wider population of around 3,000 people living along Segment Seven of the PNG LNG pipeline corridor. Like many schools along the Kikori River system, it faces ongoing challenges with limited classroom space and a lack of adequate teacher housing, issues that directly impact student learning and teacher retention.
The development forms part of MRDC’s ongoing investment in education infrastructure in project-affected communities. Through the CITF program, MRDC and its subsidiary Gas Resources Pipeline Limited have delivered similar projects across Kikori, including classrooms and teachers’ houses at Kopi, Kitomave, Veiru and Babaguina schools.
MRDC’s CITF program focuses on improving essential services, particularly education, as a means of lifting living standards in resource project areas. Since 2017, more than K80 million has been invested in infrastructure across impact communities, with a significant portion directed to schools in remote locations.
MRDC Managing Director Augustine Mano reaffirmed the commitment to education.
“Education is a powerful tool to empower our children from our resource project communities, and investments like this are critical to improving teaching and learning environments,” Mr Mano said.
Gas Resources Pipeline Limted Director Mr. Wauro Oumabe also highlighted the importance of targeting remote schools such as Bisi.
“Bisi Primary School represents the remote, underserved, and full of potential,” Director Waro said.
“By investing in classrooms and teacher housing, we are creating opportunities for children along the pipeline corridor to access quality education closer to home.”
Construction will be undertaken by MRDC’s CITF division, engaging both skilled workers and local labour to ensure community participation and ownership.
The Bisi Primary School project is part of a broader rollout of community investments along the PNG LNG pipeline corridor, where 30 percent of royalty and equity benefits received by landowners is channelled into the Community Investment Trust Fund (CITF) to deliver critical infrastructure in their communities.
