Students suspended over killing want response from department

By AGNES FIFI UKI
STUDENTS who were suspended last June for one year after the death of a fellow student are still waiting to hear from the Education Department about their future.
A parent of one of the Kokopo Business College students said he wanted his son back in school.
The concerned parent told The National that his son and other students has served their one-year suspension. But they had not received any notice from the education department and the college management on when the children could resume classes.
Attempts made to get comments from the education division and the Kokopo Business College were unsuccessful.
The incident happened last June 24 at the Kokopo Business College in East New Britain. Police officers had fired tear gas and stormed a male dormitory in the college.
In retaliation, the students burnt down the administration office building.
The final year business management student who died was identified as Stanis Jiki from East Sepik province.
Following the incident, a number of students implicated were suspended from class for one year by the education department and the school’s administration.
“My son and others who were suspended had exceeded the suspension period. Why is there no response from the school and the education division after several attempts made by us parents and the students themselves to raise this issue?” the parent asked.
He had paid K4,600 full boarding and lodging fees for his son who did his first year in business studies last year before he was suspended.
He said he was upset to see the children staying at home.