As students converge on the University of Technology in Lae for resumption of the academic year, repair work continues on damages from June's unrest.
Unitech courses were suspended after the murder of a student in a dormitory and university buildings were burned down in a concerted attack on campus in late June.
The remains of a building after it was set alight during violent clashes at the University of Technology in Lae, Papua New Guinea. Photo: Supplied / Albert Schram
Unitech's Vice Chancellor Albert Schram says the administration has worked hard to reconstruct key infrastructure including the mess in time for resumption of classes next week.
He says the dormitories, with more than five hundred rooms, were badly damaged.
"So we focussed on the doors and the locks and the windows first in repairs. In the whole country there were not enough locks to replace all the damage. But in any case, we've done what we can and most of the rooms are now repaired."
Dr Schram says Unitech has beefed up its own security contingent, augmented by reservists, with police set to have a greater presence on campus too.
Clashes at Unitech, in the Papua New Guinea city of Lae, on Monday. Photo: Twitter / Martyn Namorong
A majority of students appear keen to move on from the disruption around the boycotts in which student representatives raised awareness about their concerns about the prime minister
While Dr Schram admitted some anxieties remained among the university community about the potential for further disruptions, the council felt it was unfair "to hold the academic year hostage to such a small group of students".
PNG's Minister for Higher Education, Francis Marus, yesterday visited Unitech and inspected the range of repairs and reconstruction efforts underway.
He said he was very impressed by the work of Unitech's administration to get campus back in working order, particularly the mess which was completely gutted.
Mr Marus had handed over a 1-million kina cheque for the institution's reconstruction effort in addition to an earlier 5-million kina payment last month.
