The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) Department of Education has implemented temporary half-day school schedules to combat the severe, localized impacts of the ongoing El Niño weather pattern across the region.

Authorized under Secretary’s Circular Instruction No. 11/2026, schools in North Bougainville will temporarily operate only from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM noon, effective September 28, 2026.

ABG Education Secretary Dorothy Kenneth emphasized that these urgent measures are designed to safeguard the health of students and teachers while ensuring academic continuity.

The Department noted that environmental challenges vary significantly by district across Bougainville:

North Bougainville: Experiencing severe drought conditions and critical water shortages.

South Bougainville: Reporting continuous rainfall and localized flooding.

Central Bougainville: Monitoring the situation closely, though no severe impacts have been reported yet.

The Bougainville Education Board granted the Secretary emergency authority to approve half-day classes during a special meeting on September 26, following formal safety requests from heavily affected schools.

New Operational Guidelines

Early Dismissal: Students must vacate school grounds by 12:00 PM daily. They will be provided with take-home learning activities to sustain their studies.

Teacher Support: Afternoons are reserved for teachers to source and organize essential water supplies for their households.

Flexible Expansion: Affected schools in South and Central Bougainville may also adopt this half-day structure, subject to verified assessments from Head Teachers, District Education Officers, or Church Agencies.

Activity Suspensions: All outdoor activities during school hours—including Physical Education, Practical Agriculture, and work parades—are suspended. School carnivals, bazaars, and fetes are also deferred.

To remain open, schools must establish a dedicated School El Niño Committee to execute Standard Operating Procedures. Minimum health requirements include:

Water Supply: Ensuring a minimum of two liters of water per student each day.

Hygiene & Comfort: Maintaining functional, clean toilets and identifying shaded, cool assembly areas.

First Aid: Securing access to oral rehydration salts and standard first aid kits.

Reporting: Submitting weekly updates to the Department via District Education Officers.

These emergency measures are slated to remain in place for one month and will be re-evaluated as updated school reports come in. The Circular Instruction is officially scheduled to expire at 5:06 PM on October 28, 2026, unless environmental conditions warrant an extension.

The Department of Education urges all School Boards, administrations, teachers, parents, and partner agencies to strictly comply with these temporary directives.