Selfless efforts of primary school board of management (BoM) in rural areas needs to be recognised, said a school board chairman. George Rifi, board chairman of Garam primary in Umi-Atzera in Markham, Morobe province, said their efforts should be recognised by way of incentives to accomplish their roles. Mr Rifi said school boards contribute immensely both in knowledge and skills not only to plan and manage but also involve physically in the development of learning facilities. He said that school board are the pillars in transformation of any primary school learning facilities despite the inaccessibility of basic support to enable them achieve their aspirations. "Primary school BoMs contribute voluntarily, performing all the dirty stuff for the good of our children, community and country's human resources development, yet are neglected big time, unlike the BoM and directors in secondary, high and tertiary schools which is unfair. "With or without roads, the BoMs in far-flung primary schools in Wantoat, Onga-Waffa and elsewhere can endure terrains just to reach Lae via Mutzing to conduct school business. Even they can sleep anywhere with or without shelter and food along the road. "For urban primary schools, they have all necessities that ensures their tasks are much easier compared to rural schools," he said. Mr Rifi highlighted the situation in which Garam BoM used K40 of their own money to sustain themselves along the road to transport sawn timbers from Umi headwaters to build 3-in-1 double classroom. "All these selfless sacrifices contributed voluntarily without any incentives and recognition over time, though BoM in rural schools elsewhere around the country continue to invest their abilities to develop human resources." He said the government tuition fee subsidy (GTFS), formerly TFF is tied to six focus areas and the board is mentioned in the governance portion of the administration. He said the BoM are left in uncertainty as the head teacher dictates all administration matters, if and unless there is a clause that spells out clearly what fraction of the governance portion the board should utilize to support their roles. He said in rural schools, most board members are either semi-literate or illiterate but were appointed based on their leadership characteristics which the head teachers dictate everything. "For those semi-illiterate members, they align themselves with head teachers and run the show for better or worse, though BoM are the ones that keep head teachers and teachers accountable." Under Mr Rifi's chairmanship, the school now has two permanent teachers houses, a 3-in-1 double classroom and water supply.