School raises security concerns

By SYLVESTER WEMURU
TEACHERS at Bunabun Primary School, which has reopened after being closed for two years, need police presence at the school to start the school year, head teacher Julius Piki says.
Piki told The National that he had enough staff to start classes but needed security to protect them while they were at the school.
He said ongoing tension and conflict between the Bunabun people and settlers at Mangem care centre was the reason he was concerned.
Piki said there was always the risk of something happening and the school was in a vulnerable position.
“In 2018, we closed the school because of a big fight between the settlers and the locals where their houses were burned down and some teachers who were at the school were also victims of the fight and in 2019, we recalled classes but the problem was still fresh so the students did not turn up so we had to close the school,” he said.
“In 2020, we started school again but had to close the school because a student was killed by Manam settlers at Mangem care centre.”