Student group studies violence

THE Morobe Students Association at the Papua New Guinea University of Technology (Unitech) will carry out an in-depth research into the continuous and serious nature of violence among students and schools rivalry in Lae, Morobe.
The association received K35,000 from Community Development, Youth and Religion Minister, Loujaya Toni.
The research would look into the culture of student violence in Lae and have its findings and proposals for permanent solutions presented to the relevant authorities, stakeholders and schools.
Presenting the cheque to association patron Rev Elymas Bakung last Friday on campus, Toni said Prime Minister Peter O’Neill was interested in the research and awaiting its outcome.
“We need it. It’s timely,” she said.
The research will be managed by 17 Morobe Unitech students who attended secondary schools in Lae.
“This is our place so we must unite and address this problem,” she said.
Bakung said there was never an in-depth investigation into the worsening schools violence in Lae.
He said they might extend the research throughout Morobe and, from the findings, authorities could formulate strong strategies to address the violence.
Bakung said a collective approach to the issue was better than relying on the provincial education office, police, schools and their little committees.
The group of student researchers would start during the end of year holiday.