Marial Manasseh Memorial Secondary School in Maleng-agok Payam has been closed down indefinitely, over security concerns, following the eruption of inter-clan conflict.
In an exclusive interview, Head teacher, John Sawat Makuach says the insecurity in the area interrupts education.
‘This issue of tribal clashes between Payam and Payam or between ethnic groups and ethnic groups has caused insecurity. Those students who used to come from different places of Pachuong and Panawach are cut-off from studies because it is very hard for them to come to Maleng-agok while there is insecurity on the way. Those who do come now in such places are female. But sometimes they cannot come. As I speak to you now, we are now one week without the school operating and this is caused by insecurity’, says Sawat.
Sawat calls for peace and reconciliation between the conflicting communities so that people’s life returns to normal.
He calls for complete disarmament of the civil population holding guns.
‘Whoever is concerned in every community, should talk to their sons or children so that they reduce this case or abandon it completely. There is no need to kill your brother, no need to kill your mother and there is no need to kill your own sister. We’re one and you cannot benefit from somebody whom you have killed. You benefit from somebody who is alive. My message is that we have to take care of our people. We have to discourage them so that they put down their guns so that they stop the inter-conflict among them. This is where we shall be progressing’, Sawat pleads to the people.
Marial Manasseh Memorial Secondary is a public school established earlier this year in Maleng-agok.