Students of Paglum Secondary School are facing an uncertain end to the school term after classes were suspended indefinitely following last week’s violence and suspected arson incident at the school in Western Highlands Province.

The Department of Education (DoE) says the school was forced to close early as authorities work to restore safety and investigate the circumstances surrounding the unrest that left two students critically injured and hospitalized.

Acting Education Minister Kinoka Feo said the incident had disrupted the education of hundreds of students, describing it as a regrettable setback for a school that has performed strongly in national examinations in recent years.

Authorities have confirmed that police investigations are continuing, with one suspect already in custody.

The Department has also indicated that disciplinary inquiries will be carried out before decisions are made on the resumption of classes.

The Minister reiterated that regionalism and factional violence have no place in educational institutions and urged students to focus on their studies rather than engage in conflict.

Meanwhile, local leaders including Mul-Baiyer MP Jacob Maki, have pledged support for repairs to damaged school infrastructure, while education officials work with school authorities on the next steps for students affected by the closure.

The Department of Education says further directives on the reopening of the school will be announced following consultations with inspectors, school administrators and provincial education authorities.