Education Minister, Jimmy Uguro, says the department is serious in weeding out all cult students in all schools in the country.
Uguro also condemned school fights saying it takes time, effort and money to build schools and it will take ages to rebuild.
“Don’t burn schools; communities should look after the school” said Uguro.
The Minister made these remarks during a reconciliation ceremony at St Michael’s Brahman Secondary School in Bundi LLG, Usino Bundi District on Monday.
The school was closed for almost seven months following an incident in July 2021 that affected the whole student population of grades 9, 10, 11 and 12.
The education minister, who is also the local member of Usino-Bundi electorate told the school’s board and management he was not aware of the school’s closure.
Adding the incident was easy to manage yet the school had the audacity to close the school without informing him as the minister responsible.
He said the school’s Board of Management does not have the authority to close down the school; only the minister has the prerogative.
“The Provincial Education Board or PEB only recommends the school’s suspension and the school’s closure to the education minister and Brahman you did not follow the rules”.
The Minister says education is the responsibility of everyone and not just parents, and students.
“Education is the light of your body, is the light of your journey, is the light of your life, look after education infrastructural facilities of institutions in the country,” said Uguro.
The local MP acknowledged the effort and commitment by the school’s Board of Management, teachers, students, parents and the community to reconcile.
“Today you restore peace in the community and the school, and I say thank you to the school and the community. Today is the demonstration of your peaceful heart”.
“I am not wasting my time putting up seven high schools and putting agriculture college here for nothing. I have a dream for Usino-Bundi people, one day Usino-Bundi must take on University on behalf of Madang province. As soon as I come back after election, I must get ministry and make sure all the seven high schools must take on National high school status.
“Usino Bundi, you got only one more step to go, you got a college already in your doorstep, people of Brahman, Bundi people you got to be happy you have a high school”.
The Minister added that the Marape government is now focused on the rural education program.
“And we are starting with Usino-Bundi, said Uguro”.
Meanwhile the Minister pledged a commitment to assist the school with student uniforms and a computer laboratory.
The school held a reconciliation ceremony on Monday with exchange of traditional foods and pigs to mark an end to the school fight.
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