Death, graffiti mar city school’s return to class

ABOUT 2200 pupils of Eki Vaki Primary School in Hohola, Port Moresby, have an extra week’s holiday this week because of the death of principal Collin Hobart Bungewa.
Deputy principal Faye Ami said the students were sent home yesterday when school had resumed
after a two-week break, with newsletters to their parents to assist in cash or kind for the funeral arrangements.
“We want them to stay home so they can contribute in whatever way they can before the body leaves for its home province in Oro (Northern) on Saturday,” Ami said.
“Bungewa was a very active person and did routine checks and activities in the school.
“It is alleged that he died as a result of a bad news of damage done to the newly refurbished ablution blocks in the school.
“We were told he got a phone call last Tuesday that there was a massive graffiti marked around the ablution block walls so he made
his way to the school to see for himself.
“On his way to school he changed his mind and went first to his son’s house for a visit at the Hohola Rehabilitation Centre and asked for a cup of water and while talking to his grandchildren he collapsed.
“He was rushed to Port Moresby General Hospital but was pronounced death on arrival.”
Ami said the school had a lot of issues with its infrastructures from classrooms and ablution blocks to the staff administration office and more and had been struggling to find funding for the improvement.
“We will not accept to see such damage,” Ami said.
Classes were suspended for about seven weeks recently by the National Capital District Commission health inspector because of the poor state of the ablution block, cracked pipes and faulty taps.
Renovation cost NCDC about K79,000. The graffiti has shocked the teachers.
Ami said that after the funeral they would try to identify the perpetrators and have them face the law.
“We are already receiving information from informers and will gather them and deal with those involved and will make sure they will not escape,” she said.