Mendi schools affected – The National

By PETER WARI
SCHOOLS near Mendi town in Southern Highlands have been affected by counting for the General Election 2022 (GE22) that started on Monday, a local official says.
Highlands United Church agency school secretary Johnson Pisa said primary schools near Mendi town such as Tente, North Mendi and

Mendi Secondary School female students taking part in a national election peace march recently in Mendi, Southern Highlands. Classes have resumed for the school while other primary schools near Mendi town had been affected by the counting. – Nationalpic by PETER WARI

Kumin were affected as people from around the province had flooded into town for the counting making movement risky for students and teachers.
Pisa said Tente Primary School started classes on Monday, but only seven teachers turned up out of the school’s 27 teachers and around half of the students came to school.
“Schools in Mendi-Munihu are starting at a slow pace as it is believed that most of the teachers have been involved in the polling and are currently involved in the counting and are absent,” he said.
“Prior to the issuing of writs for the national election, teachers were warned not to take part in national election related matters but this message has been ignored.
“It is a sad story for the United Church schools such as Puril, Kuima, Wara Waghi and others that have been affected by election-related violence alleged to be between two open candidates going on in Nipa,” Pisa said.
Mendi Secondary School principal Paias Mario said classes for term two resumed on Monday after the break and teachers and students that were absent would be disciplined.
He told The National that counting had started at Momei Oval in Mendi on Sunday and there were no problems that would hinder teachers and students from attending classes. “Only a few teachers and students were absent and classes resumed on Monday.”

Extra hours to cover for lost week: Adviser

By MALIKAI BALANDU
ONE week has been suspended from the school calendar as counting of ballot papers and violence are causing problems in most parts of Morobe, an official says.
Morobe education adviser Keith Tangui said schools, elementary to secondary, were given an extra week due to those factors in General Election 2022 (GE22).
“Our schools have been used as counting venues in most parts of the province, most of our teachers are out there doing the counting and the counting is still going on,” he said.
Tangui said Markham, Kabwum, Finschhafen and Bulolo were facing election-related violence and allowing children to go back to school was a risk.
“Not only are our children at risk but our teachers are being threatened at counting booths and school properties are in danger,” he said.
Tangui said the supporters of candidates and scrutineers must respect school properties and teachers at the counting venues.
He added that the one-week taken out of term three would place extra work for students and teachers when they resumed classes.