Schools suspended over fight

By GLORIA BAUAI
TWO Kabwum schools have been suspended indefinitely after a fight over food, says Morobe education adviser Keith Tangui.
Tangui said Kabwum Secondary and Ombo Lutheran Primary schools at Derim in the Deyamos local level government area were suspended last week.
According to Tangui, the fight was between secondary students who disagreed over food rations following their written expression examinations about two weeks ago.
He said the quarrel turned into an ethnic clash where students from one area mobilised and attacked the school facilities and food gardens.
He said Kabwum Secondary spent close to K20,000 to transport police into the district via airplane to address the situation.
Tangui said about four casualties were flown to Angau Memorial Hospital in Lae and were treated and discharged. “The situation is still tense so the provincial education board agreed to suspend the school until after July 18 and we’ll see how things go,” he said.
Kabwum Secondary has a student population of about 300 and 23 teachers.
Tangui said the primary school, although not involved, had to be suspended also for security reasons, as the schools are situated next to each other on the same piece of land.
“We hope the teachers can return and the school year continues as this is the only secondary school in the district,” he said.