Over 20 Kimbe Grammar students barred from exams over fees, allowed to sit tomorrow

Over twenty Grade 10 students at Kimbe Grammar School were prevented from sitting their National Examinations this morning due to unpaid school fees, sparking outrage in the community and attracting attention from education authorities.

By late afternoon, an agreement had been reached for the students to sit their exams starting tomorrow.

Education authorities in West New Britain condemned the school’s decision. Vincent Kalatia, Executive Manager of the Education Division in Kimbe, said the students were turned away because of outstanding project fees. Officials tried to intervene, but the school’s administration initially refused to allow the students to sit for the exams.

“This is a serious matter and a denial of students’ rights to further their education,” Mr Kalatia said. Around 80 percent of the school’s Grade 10 students were affected, leaving only 13 students to sit the first day of exams. The issue has been referred to the Provincial Education Board for further deliberation.

Kimbe Grammar School is reportedly owed more than 14 million Kina in unpaid fees dating back to its establishment in 2009. Director Andrew Karl told NBC News that the current batch of Grade 10 students who were blocked from exams owed the school over K69,000.

He said repeated calls to parents to pay fees had been ignored and, with no government subsidies for private schools, he felt compelled to take a firm stand to cover teacher salaries and operational costs. He also confirmed that Grade 12 students with outstanding fees will face similar restrictions when they sit their exams next week.

The affected students, including both boys and girls, went to the local police station to seek assistance after being removed from the school grounds before the exams began.

According to the West New Britain Law & Order Forum, the students had tried to negotiate with the head teacher to sit the exams first and pay their fees later, but their request was denied. Out of 32 Grade 10 students, only five were allowed to sit their first exam papers.

The situation gained widespread attention on social media, prompting intervention from education authorities at the provincial and national levels. By late this afternoon, an agreement was reached: Director Andrew Karl agreed to allow the 27 students to sit their exams starting tomorrow.

Mr Kalatia confirmed that those students who missed their exams today will be assessed and given average marks based on their internal school assessments.