Class suspension lifted after tribes end fighting

 By VICKY BAUNKE

THE suspension of classes for schools in Markham district has been lifted following a decision by the Morobe provincial education board last week.
Classes were suspended for three weeks after a recent tribal fight which resulted in the death of 11 men in the area.
Morobe education officer Keith Jiram told The National that the provincial education board decided to lift the suspension and allow classes to resume next Monday.
Jiram said the closing of schools in the area would jeopardise the education of 3005 students.
The decision to lift the suspension was in response to several points raised in a petition by the peace and good order committee of the Amari tribe, one of the two tribes involved in the conflict.
The education board also passed a resolution to send Grade 10 and 12 students of the Amari tribe at Markham Valley Secondary to other secondary schools in the province to ensure their safety.
Jiram said children who withdraw from  secondary schools will be automatically re-enrolled next year
He said the Education Department would make efforts to provide funding assistance to the affected students.