Student not dead,says chairman

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
EVADAHANA Primary School chairman Eddie Kelea has refuted reports of the alleged death of a student during a fight and the closure of the school in Port Moresby.
He said the grade eight student was not killed and had only received minor bruising from a confrontation with outsiders on Friday.
Classes were suspended on the same day and on Monday with a mediation between the opposing sides to be held today.
Kelea said the student was assaulted by outsiders regarding an issue not linked to the school.
“Outsiders came in and went straight to his (student) classroom, removed him and fought with him outside his classroom,” he said.
Kelea said the student’s female teacher intervened to break up the fight but was pushed and fell to the ground sparking students to attack the outsiders and chase them out.
Kelea said on Monday the group involved in the fight then came to the school and threatened and intimidated students and teachers.
“We then suspended classes and we were supposed to resume today (Tuesday),” he said.
“However, misreporting in The National caused further panic and children didn’t come to school.
“Classes will resume tomorrow (Wednesday) and we will have a mediation between the conflicting parties only. Not the whole school.”