Lecturers on strike, students helpless

 By PETER ESOP WARI

LECTURERS at the Mendi School of Nursing in Southern Highlands have gone on an indefinite strike over non-payment of overtime allowances.

They stopped work on Monday after failure by the Health Department to resolve the matter.

The strike is affecting 175 students who were scheduled to do their semester exams this week or next week.

Student’s president Jennifer Birisi said they were preparing for the week’s academic work when the lecturers suddenly went on strike leaving them helpless.

She added that 65 final-year students were scheduled to travel to other districts and provinces for their practical assessment.

 “While other nursing colleges in the country are in operation, students at Mendi School of Nursing are left in suspense and are waiting to hear something good from the administration,” she said.

Birisi said the indefinite strike would greatly affect them and urged the department to immediately resolve the dispute.

“The final year students are almost ready to go out in the country and serve this nation and we need the authorities concerned to solve this issue immediately,” she said.

School principal Sr Lucy Langer could not be contacted for comments on the strike situation as she was attending a funeral service.

The Mendi School of Nursing is affiliated to the University of PNG.

 after a signing of a memorandum of understanding last year.