A village in Vanuatu is pleading for New Zealand assistance to help build a new school.
Mele Village school just outside of Port Vila is old and not big enough to fit their plans to expand so they can take secondary students as well.
When a New Zealand delegation called at the school yesterday the chief administrator, Kalo Dick Mariki, presented Ngati Tuwharetoa paramount chief, Tumu Te Heu Heu, with a petition asking for help in constructing a new school close by.
Mr Mariki says they are also desperate for library materials.
The Vanuatu government is endeavoring to ensure that all children are in school up to Grade Eight - that is until they are around 12.
The New Zealand aid agency is providing increasing support for this, with the new five year aid strategy released today allowing millions for teacher training, curriculum support and materials.
