By Vasinatta Yama – EMTV News, Mt Hagen
The Board of governors of the Holy Trinity Teachers College in Mt Hagen is calling on 3rd and 4th-year students to return to the college by the end of this week.
Students fled for their safety after a fight erupted between the locals and college students.
Board Chairman, Hugo Kop says the 3rd and 4th years need to return and complete their final academic programs before graduating.
Holy Trinity Teachers College was closed for almost a week after an incident occurred last Thursday.
Police say two locals were arrested and charged after they drove into the college under the influence of alcohol and CRASHED into the school principal’s vehicle, while he was parked and sitting inside it.
Board Chairman, Hugo Kop says a fight erupted and students fled for their safety, but things are already under control.
“Governing Council has addressed the problem, soon after the students have departured. They quickly met, addressed the issue at hand and got the local leaders together to address the problem within the community, with the help of the police ” said Mr. Kop.
School Principal Michael Miamil says they are two weeks away from closing the academic year.
He said the 1st and 2nd years can remain at home and come next year and register and continue.
However, the 3rd and 4th years must return and complete the remaining lessons.
Mr. Miamil says the graduating students must return for their missioning ceremony and first-ever graduation for its degree program after affiliating with Divine Word University.
“Staff members are now working on their marks or results collected from the assignments, tests, projects completed to compile the results for semester two.” said the Teachers College Principal.
Meanwhile, the local councilors apologized to the school for their actions.
They said this incident is the first to occur since the school was established in 1963.
Village Councillor, Thomas Kunai said, “On behalf of my community, I apologize for what had happened. This institution is not only for Western Highlands Province but an insitution for Papua New Guinea. On behalf of my community, I apologise to the parents of the students who are studying at the college.”
“Two or three are involved. We, the village councilors, community leaders, church leaders do not want this incident to happen again”, said another Village councilor, William Wingti.
A local Councillor, Peter Kaim, urged the students to return and said their safety is guaranteed.
He said the situation is under control after locals apprehended the two men involved and surrendered them to Mt Hagen Police.
The school Principal says the academic assessments are on track and he assures parents to send their children to attend their graduation and complete their last assessments.
