Students clash, halt traffic along Markham

TRAFFIC along the Markham Road in Lae was stalled in front of Bugandi Secondary School yesterday morning when rival students hurled stones and missiles at each other.
People travelling to school or work  stopped on either side and watched helplessly.
The flying objects from the rival student groups rained down on the concrete road.
A similar incident in the first term had forced the administration to suspend classes two weeks before the term break. Two students were terminated then.
School principal Tony Gau told The National that after morning assembly yesterday, students were advised to go home as classes were cancelled in respect of the death of senior teacher Elizabeth Lalo.
The funeral service was held on Wednesday and yesterday with most teachers accompanying the body to Madang for burial.
“The students walked out of the school gate and the incident occurred outside so I am not aware of the cause,” Gau said.
“Every effort has been made by the teachers and school board of management and provincial education board to initiate various measures to ensure students realised the value and importance of their education but to no avail.
“Something rooted deeply still exists.
“We are prepared and ready to teach them but it’s the students themselves who need to change their mindset.”
Police said that the fight began last Thursday and led to Monday, Wednesday and yesterday.
No casualties were reported from yesterday’s fight.
Police urged students to attend school and receive a good education instead of getting into fights because parents had invested in their studies.