No graduations, officials say

By GLORIA BAUAI
EDUCATION officials and head teachers in Morobe have unanimously agreed not to host school graduations this year.
Morobe education programme adviser Keith Tangui said the decision was a control measure against Coronavirus (Covid-19) currently spreading quickly through the province. “Graduations attract people and we all know that’s how the disease surged in Goroka,” he said.
“So there will be no school graduations for primary, secondary, national highs and technical and vocational education and training schools in Morobe.
“Parents have been advised that students will complete exams and return home and can pick up their academic transcripts and certificates later.
Tangui said three schools in the province had reported Covid-19 cases – a teacher at Omili Primary in Lae, a teacher at Erap Primary in Huon-Gulf, three teachers and one Grade 7 student at Menyamya Primary in Menyamya.
“These schools have been advised to conduct contact-tracing of whoever came in contact with those teachers and students,” he said.
Tangui said the education year would continue normally until the scheduled date of closure by the Education Department on Dec 10.
He said schools must continue to practise the New Normal with strict instructions on mandatory wearing of masks and hand sanitising for the general safety of schools at this time of pandemic.
He urged parents who had not paid their component of school fees to pay up so schools could complete the year without disruptions.
Tangui said the education office had put measures in place to see teachers only on Tuesdays and Thursdays.