WHP Schools experience overcrowding

The Schools in the Western Highlands Province are experiencing overcrowding in the classrooms.

Mt. Hagen Secondary school alone has ten classes for grade 9 up to 12 since 2015 and its increasing. Each class consists of more than 60 students.

The similar issues are faced by other schools including Hagen Park Day Secondary School, Togoba Secondary School and other high schools. This issue is also experienced in the primary schools especially in towns.

The Governor of the province Wai Rapa said this issue has been ongoing for some years and the Provincial government is looking into it.

He said the main factor of overcrowding in classrooms is the result of tribal fighting and lawlessness in Enga, Southern Highlands and Hela that's causing people to move and settle in WHP.

"I have been informed that students from these provinces are filling up the space. We appreciate that but it has to stop, and the Provincial government will focus on giving more priority to our own students.

"I call on the leaders to go back and fix the law-and-order issues, look after the schools properly so students can have better education in their own province instead of flooding into Western Highlands," Rapa said.

Rapa is concerned that overcrowding in Schools does not promote conducive learning.

The provincial government is working around to provide a better environment for the students in the province and urge leaders of remaining provinces to fix their social problems and get schools up on track for quality education.