STUDENTS returned to classes at the University of Technology yesterday, after a three-week protest over higher semestral fees and alleged mismanagement.
“Everything is back to normal here. We are all back in class now (yesterday),” student representative council vice-president Sam Apai said yesterday.
He said the students would try their best to catch up on the lessons missed.
Police were present to ensure there was no untoward incident but were expected to pull out today.
Meanwhile, the Education Division of the Autonomous Bougainville Government called on its students to concentrate on their studies and not to get involved in the strike.
“Let the authorities deal with the matter,” executive officer Bruno Babato said, adding that the boycott had worried parents and stakeholders.
He said students on scholarship and who participated in boycott were wasting public funds.
“The ABG spent K1.4 million on the school fee assistance scheme for tertiary students who make up only 1% of Bougainville’s population.
“These funds could have been used on much-needed projects but ABG had agreed to use it on our tertiary students, thus, we expect students to be studying,” he said.