POLICE have arrested and charged four students who were among a group who damaged property at a school in Wewak, East Sepik, and looted its canteen last Friday.
Provincial police commander Joe Poma strongly condemned what the students did at the Brandi Secondary School in Wewak. He said up to 30 students were involved and everyone would be brought to justice. Police believe that the students were under the influence of alcohol. Poma said the students damaged three teachers’ quarters, the staff room and deputy principal’s office. They broke into the school canteen, looted it and chased away the teachers on duty, including three single teachers who fled from the school compound. Four of the students who began the rampage on Friday evening have been charged by police. More are expected to be arrested soon. “It has become a habit for students to turn on teachers and the school when the administration takes action on them on disciplinary matters,” he said. “Alcohol abuse by students is widespread and when the school takes action, the students become defensive. “This is totally unacceptable behaviour and police will not hesitate to arrest and charge students who misbehave.” Poma, who is a former student of the school, said he would discuss with the school and education officials in Wewak about removing the male boarders from the school dormitories. “If this group of students cannot behave, they may as well be day students and can get drunk at home,” he said. “We cannot keep them at the school and posing a threat to teachers.” Provincial education advisor Joseph Auli said he would comment on the incident late
Barbara Short
4/8/2014 08:31:51 pm
I heard that the school is in a very run down condition. I heard that there was no proper boy's mess and they ate under the trees. I heard that the dormitories were also in a state of disrepair. It is quite common for students to react in vandalising buildings that they feel are neglected. I think the school sounds as though it has been neglected by the government and the education department. I hear that class sizes are now 45-50 and the staff feel they are losing control at times. I realize that the police are only doing their job and I don't blame Joseph Poma. But this appears to be an Education Department web site and I feel the Education Department needs to take some responsibility for what is happening at Brandi. Many of the staff are very concerned about what is happening and what is not happening at Brandi - just read the comments on the Sepik Region Development Discussion Forum on Facebook. As a former teacher of the school 1971-74 I am very concerned over the run down state of the school and have written to the Australian High Commissioner asking her how I can go about getting help for the school from the Australian Government. Brandi needs to be completely reburbished. No doubt the students who have rioted are fed up with the situation. I can only see the situation getting worse unless something is done to repair the Mess and all the other buildings that need to be repaired. Mrs Barbara (Neasmith) Short - Sydney Australia. Comments are closed.
|
Papua New Guinea education news services: Get Free Webpage for your School. Send us your School Profile now
>> STUDY IN PNG Follow PNG Online School |