SIX primary school teachers in Finschhafen and their families fled for their lives after they were attacked by the relatives of a female student last week.
The teachers in the remote Kor Primary School, in Burum-Kuwat local level government, fled to Lae last weekend fearing further attacks. Teacher Sepi Towo said the trouble started when he waved goodbye to one of the female students after school. The student, who deemed the gesture bad and provocative in nature, informed her family members immediately. They came to the school compound and attacked Towo while he was with other teachers. Towo said he had no bad intention when he waved goodbye to the girl. “We had a short volleyball game with some staff and students. After the game a father and her two daughters were leaving. I raised my hand up and waved goodbye to them,” he said. “Other Grade 5 students were with the three as they left but she misinterpreted my action.” He said at around 7pm, his house was surrounded and he was attacked. They broke the door and windows, uprooted flowers and plants surrounding the house and smashed the walls with stones. Towo said a church elder, who was at his home at the time, managed to save him. But they returned at night and damaged school buildings and teaching materials. They attacked other teachers including head teacher Emeng Bomi. Bomi said the teachers all had to leave the school because “we fear for our lives”. The teachers have lodged a complaint with education authorities and police. No comments could be obtained from police. But ward councillor Asengi Guniang said teachers had helped educate the people in the past 22 years. “It is not good that they are treated like that,” Guniang said. The National Comments are closed.
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