Students find places in new high schools: Official

Nine newly registered schools in Madang have taken in students who missed out on grade nine selection last year, an official says.
Catholic Education secretary Bruno Tulemanil said these schools were Ulingan Day High, Josephstal, Bosmun Day High, Bugati Day High, Usino Technical, Max David Agro Technical, Annaberg Day High, Dusin Day High and Bundi Day High.
Tulemanil said 8,876 grade eight students sat the grade eight national examinations last year for only 3,000 spaces. He said of the 8,876, about 6,000 were eligible for grade nine places but due to limited spaces, they took in 3,700 and the rest were slotted into the new high schools.
Tulemanil said the number of students were higher than the number of teaching positions which resulted in students being left out and also overcrowding in classes.
He said Madang needed more high schools.