Two new teachers’ houses were recently opened by Huon Gulf MP and Minister for Community Development, Youth and Religion, Jason Peter, at Lakala Lutheran Primary School in Laukanu Village and Lababia Primary School in Salamaua Local Level Government, Morobe Province.
The projects were delivered under the Huon Gulf District Development Authority (HGD-DDA) Teachers Housing Scheme, which aims to improve teacher accommodation and encourage educators to continue serving in rural and remote communities.
Huon Gulf District Education Manager Sam Gesamg joined Minister Peter at Lakala Lutheran Primary School, where a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to officially commission the completed teachers’ house.
The district has 66 primary schools, with 52 teachers’ houses already completed and occupied. The remaining 14 schools are expected to receive teachers’ houses before 2027.
During the visit, Minister Peter’s Electoral Office also continued the rollout of Operation Rausim Morata, a community housing support program launched in 2024.
The program provides families with roofing materials to help them build permanent homes. The first 42 families in Ward 10 received roofing iron, ridge capping, roofing screws and other materials.
Families who complete their homes become eligible to receive a 1,000-litre rainwater storage tank to improve access to safe and reliable water.
The program has now delivered its first round of roofing materials to all 65 wards in Huon Gulf District, benefiting 2,730 families.
A further two rounds of distributions are planned, with the program expected to support 8,190 families across the district by 2027.
Later in the day, Jason Peter travelled to Lababia Village, Ward 7, where another teachers’ house was opened at Lababia Primary School.
Jason Peter said improving teacher accommodation, education infrastructure and supporting families through practical community programs remain key priorities for Huon Gulf District.
He said the projects are part of his Bottom-Up Planning approach, which focuses on identifying community needs at the grassroots level and delivering targeted development support.
Additonally, his vision is for Huon Gulf District to become the “Morning Star” of Morobe Province and Papua New Guinea through strong education, infrastructure, community development and service delivery.
The HGD-DDA will continue working with communities, schools, churches and development partners to deliver projects aimed at improving living standards across the district.
