Mendi Day Secondary School principal Paias Mario says his administration will refurbish and build new classrooms and teachers’ houses to accommodate teachers and grades nine (9) and eleven (11) next year.
Mario welcomed the decision by the Southern Highlands education board to suspend schools affected by election-related violence recently and said his administration would take heed to be prepared.
At least 20 schools, excluding elementary schools, affected by election-related violence have been suspended since last Monday and students are to repeat next year.
Mario told The National that schools in Mendi town were the worst affected as counting of ballot papers and fighting took place in the town that affected the movement of teachers and students.
I believe peace will be fully restored by next year and the academic year will resume without hindrance.
My staff must remain on active duty and report to duty each day until the school year ends.
Pais Mario
Education adviser Mark Push said there were many things teachers could do and school administrations should draw up activities for them to perform.
He said vandalism and theft of school properties were likely to increase at this time when classes were suspended.