School holidays extended

SCHOOL holidays for the Eastern Highlands and Chimbu provinces have been extended for another week.
Education secretary Dr Musawe Sinebare said this was because of the Electoral Commission’s decision to extend polling in the two provinces.
Sinebare said all other schools in the national education system would start term three as scheduled.
 “I am now calling on all the provincial education advisers, directors or chairpersons of provincial education boards, in the absence of a provincial education adviser, to ensure that normal classes start on Monday without any disruptions,” he said.
“You are required to monitor the situation on the ground and use your discretion to make decisions in the best interest and safety of the children, teachers and the school property and quickly inform the department through the first assistant secretaries responsible for the four regions.”
Sinebare said parents and guardians would be in a better position to know what was happening on the ground and should exercise their rights to hold back their children if they felt their safety might
not be guaranteed.
He said it was important that children were not denied their right to the required hours of teaching and learning as it was important for their education and certification.
“The school holidays are governed by both the Teaching Service Act and the Education Act,” he said.
There are about 10 weeks of  holidays in a year.