Hamau refutes claims of instability

By FRANKIY KAPIN
THE high schools in New Ireland pro­vince are progressing well into the academic year.
This is the assurance by the provincial education advisor, Dr John Hamau following alleged rumors of instability.
Dr Hamau said in his visit to Namatanai Secondary over the weekend, he witnessed the reinstallation of electricity supply to the school by PNG Power.
He said renovation of the boys’ dormitory had been completed and being occupied with the ablutions still under construction.
He said the current trend of water supply for the school was sustainable for now until the installation of new water pumps by the Poliamba Oil Palm Company.
He said there were also rumors of students at Mongop High school being scattered and under threat as a result of an ethnic clash.
He confirmed that the situation has been contained.
Hamau said some male students from Lemakot and surrounding villages in the Tikana LLG clashed with students from the Central New Ireland area.
He said the swift intervention of authorities contained the situation from being developing and hindering classes.
Hamau said the students were back in school while parents and the school board had been tasked to solve the problem.
Meanwhile,  Madina High school has been suspended for a week from Monday.
Hamau is yet to receive formal confirmation from the Kavieng district education coordinator. However, he assured the public that the authorities were working to resume classes next week.
He said the problem at Madina High was ongoing with the water pump system and power supply being run down.
He said, even worse, the landowners do not want students to use nearby creeks.
He said the situation would be a thing of the past with the installation of  a 110 KVA generator set provided by the office of the Kavieng Open MP.
Hamau said Konomatalik High school, Manggai and Utu Secondary were progressing well into the academic year.