Lack of moral values cause of problems

 THE absence of moral and ethical values among students is the main cause of school fights, cult activities and negative behaviour, the National Education Conference heard yesterday.

In her presentation, Dr Kapa Kelep Malpo said moral and ethical values should feature prominently in the development of a new school curriculum.

She recommended that the proposed  National Curriculum Assessment Authority (NCAA) emphasises ethical, moral and Christian values.

She said the curriculum must be developed to make students become respectful, critical thinkers, problem solvers and visionaries.

Malpo said all managers of schools and institutions must be properly trained in management before taking office.

University of Goroka guidance and counselling lecturer Lynn Iarume supported moral education in schools.

She said PNG was facing many social problems largely because of the deteriorating moral values in schools.

James Aipa of the University of Natural Resources in Vudal, East New Britain, said disciplinary problems lowered the morals of students.

He said student cult activities, gangs, peer pressure, alcohol intimidation and harassment affected academic performance.

Aipa told participants that research following school fights in Lae unveiled some of these issues as underlying causes.