Heavy rains see classes suspended in Alotau

It's been raining a few weeks now.

Today, the worst of them. Some government officers reported flooding in the morning, drainage was cleared up and work resumed while schools we went around to, not so lucky.

The teachers are busy drying their classrooms because some of the water is coming from the roof and the pathways are full of water. There was flood in the morning and now it went low after rain settled.

"I'm keeping back only grades seven, sixes and eights, waiting for the teachers to come so that they can be able to give them work and then send them away.

"This morning when I opened the classroom, the classroom was overflowing with water and it eventually spoiled my students' textbooks there, the textbooks and including my stationaries there as well.

"That's why my students could not enter the classroom and they were sent home, RomaTiudam said.

The Provincial Education Advisor has confirmed he has sent out word to school administrations in Alotau to act accordingly in weighing out their situation and it's what a few schools have done, stopping classes and sending children home.

Authorities say this rainy weather could persist until some clear skies come Monday next week and people are being urged to stay clear of fast-flowing rivers and move to higher grounds if they have to.