Gr 9 girl arrested after knife attack in school

By Dorothy Mark
A ninth grader at Madang’s Tusbab Provincial Secondary School has been charged with wounding and is kept in custody for her safety and to avoid further trouble.
Anna Paliau, from Manus, allegedly attacked her classmate in the school ground yesterday over an incident in the school on Friday.
Deputy principal Timothy Down said Paliau is alleged to have drawn a knife and use it to stab another girl at the back of her neck, causing a serious injury.
Down said the victim’s male cousin in grade 10 attacked Paliau and stabbed her on the arm.
He said more than 2000 students were sent home before the relatives of the injured girl took matters into their hands and entered the school premises.
“The victim was taken to the hospital while the suspect was taken away quickly to the police station,” Down said.
A police officer who requested anonymity said Paliau was charged with one count of wounding and a warrant was arranged for her to go to Beon prison.
He said the charge could be changed after police completed the report on the seriousness of the wound sustained by the victim.
Madang acting provincial administrator John Bivi said Tusbab had been having many problems which teachers had not been able not control.
He held a meeting yesterday to discuss the issue and what steps the provincial education board would take to address the issue.
It was also a public concern on student behaviour and activities at school.
Students have been carrying knives to school and sending caps around the class to collect money.
Down said they received reports that students were threatened to be beaten after class if they did not contribute.
“This is a big challenge the school is going through,” Bivi said.