School closes following tragic incident involving teacher and student

A high school teacher in Milne Bay is in Police custody following the death of a boarding student.

The suspect, a teacher at the remote Duau High School in Milne Bay, allegedly assaulted the victim with a piece of timber for making noise near the dormitory area. The beating is alleged to have led to the victim's death.

Education authorities in Alotau confirm the incident took place two weeks ago and the school has been shut down since over possible community retaliation, pending investigations and the proper burial of the victim.

Milne Bay’s Principal Education Advisor Roma Tuidam tells us his case is also being looked at by employer the Teaching Services Commission.

The child's body was brought over and is at the morgue at Alotau Provincial Hospital for a postmortem before arrangements for a proper burial can be made.

The suspect was recruited straight out of the University of Goroka in 2018 and has served in Hagita and Wesley Secondary Schools and this was his first year at Duau High School.