No dorms, students scatter

 By DOROTHY MARK

HUNDREDS of students at the Madang Technical College are staying in staff quarters or sleeping in classrooms because their dormitories are still undergoing maintenance work. 

The work was supposed to have been completed during the Christmas holidays.

Girls from Manus, Buka, New Ireland and East New Britain are being accommodated in staff quarters.

Student Terry Mia said they arrived two weeks ago and were forced to sleep in the classrooms and staff quarters, even though they had the full fees of K3535 for HECAS NC1 students and K5000 for TTC students.

“We paid the full amount and expected to go straight to the dormitories but are now sleeping in staff homes and classrooms,” he said.

The wife of a college staff said she and other wives felt sorry for the students and invited them to stay at the quarters.

“We provide meals for some. Those who have relatives in town got help but those who don’t are the ones we are worried about,” she said.

School principal Patrol Maino said they could move into their dormitories next week.

He said the girls’ dormitory was damaged by termites and rats and even electrical wirings were not spared.