Fighting the school fights

How do we stop school fights in cities like Port Moresby and Lae? The Tokarara suburb in the National Capital District has found its own way. On Tuesday 27 May the first batch of Grade 8 students from the four Primary schools in the area held their joint day of formation on “Building a Culture of Peace, Harmony and Care for our Mother Earth”. They gathered at the convenient venue of Saint John the Apostle Catholic parish which is also home to one of the four schools. In the next three weeks all the Grade 8 students will go through the program and conclude with a grand ‘Grade 8 Sports Day’ on 26 June.

“This is the second year we hold this activity – said Josephine Taiabu Baupua – Principal of Tokarara Primary School. It was first suggested by the local parish priest, Fr Silvestre Saladaga, when school fights erupted in 2012. The community, the four schools and the District Education Board endorsed the activity which we now plan to hold every year.” “The boys come to realize that they are brothers and in recent times we never had any school fight. The Grade 8 students go back to their schools and share their experience and the message of peace with the younger students”, further commented the senior teacher

The 2014 program includes talks on law and order, personal and community health, and protection of the environment.

Besides the Tokarara Primary school, led by Ms Baupua, Ororo, June Valley and St. John’s Primary participate in the program with representatives from the teaching staff. (Giorgio Licini)