Schools in ENB to resume this week

Schools in East New Britain will resume on Monday, the Provincial Education Board [PEB] has confirmed.

The reopening follows a week-long suspension after numerous schools were affected by Tropical Cyclone Maila.

Provincial Education Advisor Wilson Kairat confirmed the suspension was lifted effective Friday, April 17.

He said while most schools are expected to reopen immediately, some in the Gazelle and Rabaul districts may resume at a later date.

Like elsewhere in Papua New Guinea, most schools in East New Britain are located in villages and rely heavily on community support for their upkeep.

Torrential rain over the Easter weekend two weeks ago lasted for two days, triggering flash floods that forced their way into classrooms, offices, and school toilets, leaving some classrooms partially buried in silt and debris.

The coming weeks are expected to be challenging, as the second term moves into its second week.

Many schools are already facing ongoing issues linked to the recently introduced 1-6-6 education policy.

Limited infrastructure, a lack of teaching and learning resources, and the cost of repairs from the recent damage are placing additional strain on already tight school budgets.

So far, the province has recorded 12 deaths, all linked to landslides.

However, this does not include the number of people now struggling to access food.

Provincial Disaster Committee Chairman Levi Mano says more families may have lost their food gardens.

Access to affected areas remains difficult, with key roads still blocked, delaying the delivery of relief supplies.

An estimated 41,000 people may have been directly affected, with assessments still ongoing.

Mr Mano also warned of a possible food shortage in the coming weeks, despite relief efforts currently underway.

Authorities continue to assess the extent of the damage caused by the flash floods and landslides, which have left many families displaced and cut off from basic services.

While a province-wide damage estimate is yet to be finalised, initial reports from one district alone have already exceeded one million kina.