Following the impact of Cyclone Maila across New Ireland, some schools have extended their Term One holidays, while others resumed classes depending on their locations and the extent of damage.
At Madina Secondary School, students were given an additional week of holidays to ensure their safety, particularly regarding travelling back to school.
About 75 per cent of the student population comes from Namatanai, with others from islands, including Lavongai, Djaul, Lihir, and Simberi.
School principal Josepha Bart said the decision was reached for the safety of students.
Many students rely on both boat and road transport, with weather disruptions affecting sea travel.
There were damaged infrastructure along the highway, including washed-out bridges and fallen trees.
Bart said students were unable to return to school after term one due to the cyclone’s effects.
“If they had only one mode of transport coming to school, it would be okay, but there are two changes along the way, so considering that, we have given them extra time,” she said.
She added that the additional week was intended to allow conditions to stabilise and to keep students safe with their families.
“When people are affected by a disaster, it is right that we keep them with their parents. When the situation is calm, they can return,” she said.
“If they leave their parents’ homes to travel back to school, they are already under our care, so if anything happens along the way, we will be held responsible.”
Bart said that, as an all-girls school, student safety remained a major concern, particularly during periods of unpredictable weather and travel risks.
“As an all-female school, safety is paramount. Anything can happen to students while they are trying to access education or return to school,” she said.
Meanwhile, the inaccessibility of the road connecting Kavieng and Namatanai continues to hinder travel and impose a burden on residents, particularly students and rural communities.
Locals reported that people travelling between Kavieng and Namatanai are walking from inland areas where roads are impassable down to the coast to access boats before continuing their journeys.
This has raised concerns among locals, over safety, access, and continuity of essential services.
