Education counters cultism

 A TEACHER says education should be the means of liberation from cult practices in Papua New Guinea’s educational institutions.

Michael Pendekos blamed the rise in cult practices among students to the negligence of school authorities in addressing students’ welfare.

He said cult practices were also influenced by people, including married, single and financially-secure individuals who lent money to the cult groups to buy alcohol, promote sexual activities and drug trafficking.This lead to students rebelling against teachers.

Pendekos said peer pressure was not the sole cause.

He said children from broken families, students not performing well in class and students feeling neglected re not cared for by the school authorities, ended up in cult activities. He said cult practices was visible in school premises though graffiti, student conduct and attitude.

He said cult practices hindered academic progress in schools and urged all teachers to pay attention to students learning and behaviour.

He urged teachers to be role models for students. “Schools must set up an effective communication with parents so that issues of students involved in cult practices could be relayed to parents,” he said.