Exams thrown into disarray

THE Grade Eight national examinations for 60 Yuni Primary School students near the Hides gas field project in Tari, Southern Highlands province, have been thrown into disarray.
About 50 police mobile squad members deployed by the Department of Petroleum and Energy (DPE), resource developers Oil Search Ltd (OSL) and ExxonMobil on the weekend have taken over their four classrooms for accommodation.
The policemen have been deployed in advance for the licence-based benefits sharing agreement (LBBSA) forum for the PNG LNG project, which is set to take place next week in Hides.
A concerned community leader, who requested anonymity, told The National from Hides last night that the community was worried about the future of their children as their final preparation for the end of the year examinations would be affected.
The source said police mobile squad members went to the school last Saturday and built their camp there.
The source said that the policemen moved into the school without any proper arrangement with the teachers and the school.
The source added that when Paul Payari, one of the Grade Eight teachers went to enquire with the policemen why they forcefully moved into his classroom and occupied the classroom, the mobile squad members beat him up.
The source said the community had to send the teacher to Goroka to seek medical assistance.
School head teacher Robert Lapeya and Tari police authorities could not be contacted for further comments last night.