Porgera Secondary suspends classes until end of counting

PORGERA Secondary School in Enga has suspended classes until after all election processes are completed, according to provincial education adviser Lowatina Was.
Was told The National that tensions were still high and the counting process had yet to reach completion.
“Counting for Porgera is ongoing while most parts of the roads have been blocked off,” he said.
“Right now, the safety of our teachers and students is not guaranteed so we cannot risk allowing students to attend classes.”
Despite the school losing some of its facilities earlier this year to fires, Was said the education division would ensure grade 12s sit for their Written Expression exams in two weeks’ time on Aug 15.
“The examinations’ funds are ready and so far, we have managed to distribute the examination booklets to our students for remedial purposes and have encouraged them and their parents to prepare while classes have been suspended,” she said.
Was also said the division would make necessary arrangements to relocate and resettle the teaching staff and their families who had just been made homeless after a duplex used to accommodate teachers was set on fire last month.
He said at the moment, the school had been deserted ever since the election-related chaos started but gave his assurance that once all election processes had been completed, they would try to restore normalcy at the school.
Was said Yumbilam High School that was completely burnt down, had been relocated to a safe location.
“I had to seek assistance from the security personnel to help repatriate teachers and their families to a safe location when the school was completely destroyed by the fire.”