By WASITA ROYAL
All schools in East New Britain Province have been ordered to suspend classes for one week after the widespread destruction caused by heavy rainfall from Tropical Cyclone Maila.
In a circular issued on Friday, April 10, Provincial Education Board Chairman Levi Mano announced that classes will be canceled from Monday, April 13, to Friday, April 17, covering the first week of Term 2.
The decision, authorized under Section 10 of the ENB Provincial Education Act of 1988, follows advice from the Provincial Disaster Committee and the National Weather Office. The heavy and prolonged rainfall on Sunday, April 5 has caused this extensive damage to road infrastructure, power poles, water lines, buildings, food gardens, and cash crops. The districts of Rabaul, Kokopo, and Gazelle were hit hard
“Although the province has started undertaking response activities, rain is expected to still continue for the next couple of days and is expected to continue to threaten our normal day-to-day lives,” Mano said in the circular.
During the suspension period, school principals, head teachers, boards of management, parents, and stakeholders are been instructed to focus on recovering from the damages caused by the severe weather.
Mano also directed the Provincial Division of Education, District Education Officers, and School Inspectors to continue monitoring the situation and provide combined technical advice to determine when classes may safely resume.