PNG Haus Bung

PNG PM’s XIII coach Wellington Albert says the team’s local-based players have a unique opportunity to prove themselves when they face Australia at the Santos National Football Stadium today.Albert, who has transitioned from playing to coaching, says taking charge of the PM’s XIII comes with significant responsibility, but he is looking forward to the challenge.“This opportunity comes with a lot of expectations and a lot of responsibility,” Albert said.The PM’s XIII squad features a number of players from the Digicel Cup and other domestic competitions, marking a shift from previous years when the team was largely made up of players based overseas.Albert says the country’s domestic competition forms the foundation of Papua New Guinea rugby league and deserves opportunities at the highest level.“Our foundation of this country is the Digicel Cup and our local competition,” he said.“We’ve overlooked our Digicel Cup the last couple of years, but now it’s good to see the PNG side giving back to our local Digicel Cup boys.”The coach says today’s match will provide the local players with valuable exposure against Australian players they normally watch on television.He hopes they can use the experience to test themselves and showcase the quality of Papua New Guinea’s domestic competition.“They look up to those NRL players, and it’s their opportunity to show what our local domestic competition is and to test themselves,” Albert said.Despite the experience in the Australian side, Albert has urged his players not to be intimidated by their opponents.His message to the squad has been simple — play the way they normally do and trust the talent and ability that earned them selection.“They are here for a reason. They are here to win,” Albert said.“Just play like you normally play in your local competition and display whatever talent and ability brought you to this level.”Albert says building team cohesion was also a major focus during the week, with the coaching staff working to bring players from different competitions together.As they prepare for the Australian challenge, the coach says limiting errors, completing sets, kicking into the corners and defending well will be crucial.“If we keep ourselves to less errors and complete our sets, then we should be good,” he said.While PNG selectors will be watching the match, Albert says the players have been encouraged to focus on the game rather than putting pressure on themselves to impress for future representative opportunities.The PM’s XIII will face Australia at the Santos National Football Stadium today.

Australia and the Christian Professionals Network Inc. (PNG CPN) have launched a new partnership aimed at creating economic opportunities for young people in Western Highlands Province.The initiative will focus on agribusiness in the districts of Dei, Anglimp and Hagen Central, where PNG CPN will provide training, mentorship and support to help young people establish agricultural businesses.The program will also strengthen links between communities and government to help local growers access markets outside their communities and increase opportunities to earn an income from their produce.PNG CPN Acting Chief Executive Officer Wikai Membi says the initiative will go beyond creating employment opportunities, with young participants also being trained as Peace Ambassadors.“We will train young people to become Peace Ambassadors, who will work alongside communities, churches, and government to encourage positive leadership and address antisocial behaviour among young people,” Mr Membi said.He said Australian funding would help young people develop sustainable livelihoods while contributing to stronger communities.Australian High Commission Minister-Counsellor Madeleine Moss said supporting young people to build sustainable livelihoods remains an important part of Australia's partnership with Papua New Guinea.She said the partnership will help young people in Western Highlands develop practical skills, access economic opportunities and contribute positively to their communities.The initiative combines agribusiness training, mentorship and community leadership, with the partners saying it will support locally led solutions to strengthen livelihoods and create pathways for young people to succeed.

Members of the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII men’s and women’s teams recently joined young Papua New Guineans in Port Moresby for a special community clinic delivered through the NRL in PNG’s League Bilong Laif (LBL) program.The 200 primary school students were also joined by the Australian Schoolboys and Schoolgirls squads.League Bilong Laif, supported by Australia, uses rugby league as a platform to promote the values of teamwork, respect, courage, belief and inclusion while developing fundamental rugby league skills.Australian Women’s Prime Minister’s XIII Coach Jess Skinner said the clinic was about more than rugby league, providing an opportunity for players to share important life lessons with young people.“One of the key things we are doing here is sharing messages about healthy living, staying active, eating well and the importance of being a good teammate, while displaying sportsmanship both on and off the rugby league field,” Coach Skinner said.PNG Prime Minister’s XIII Women’s Coach Cathy Neap said the clinic created meaningful opportunities for young people to connect with their sporting heroes.“It's always special when the Australian teams come over to meet young people here. They get the chance to meet role models they normally only see on television, helping to build connections and strengthen the people-to-person relationship between our two countries,” Coach Neap said.The participation of Prime Minister’s XIII players created a memorable experience for participants, giving young Papua New Guineans the opportunity to learn directly from some of the game's biggest stars.Beyond sharing their rugby league expertise, the players inspired participants to pursue their goals, value education and make positive contributions to their communities.

Thirty Grade 6 students from Galomarubu Primary School in Rigo Coastal, Central Province, have been given a firsthand glimpse of university life during an educational visit to the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG).The students, accompanied by three teachers, visited UPNG on Tuesday, September 29, as part of an educational excursion to Port Moresby that also included visits to the Port Moresby Nature Park and Parliament House.Teacher-in-charge Barbara Bukikun said the visit to UPNG was intended to expose the students to higher education and motivate them to work towards their future academic goals.“The whole idea of visiting UPNG is to motivate them to study and do well in school so that one day, they can end up in universities such as UPNG,” she said.The students were welcomed by Acting Director of Student Services Dika Iru and her team, who introduced them to UPNG, its academic schools and the role of the Student Services Division.They then toured several key areas of the university, including the University Library, lecture theatres, academic schools and Forum Square.For the Grade 6 students, the visit provided an opportunity to see university life firsthand and learn more about the educational pathways available to them.The school says experiences such as these can help encourage students to remain focused on their education and consider higher education as they begin planning for their future.

BSP Financial Group Limited (BSP) has donated 20 new computers to Tabubil Secondary School under its 50for50 GivimBek Initiative, successfully restoring practical Information and Communication Technology (ICT) learning for its students.While the school previously featured a dedicated computer laboratory, the original machines had deteriorated over time. Without functioning equipment, students were restricted to theoretical lessons, unable to apply their classroom knowledge practically.The newly completed project fully addresses this gap, delivering 20 software-equipped computers alongside a fully integrated local area network (LAN) to support comprehensive ICT instruction.The project represents a total investment of K80,000, covering procurement, logistics, software installation, and technical setup. Funding was sourced through a combination of the Tabubil Branch Community Project fund and the 50for50 GivimBek Initiative. Local project leads Neckie Robbie and Josephine Nakara spearheaded the execution.Handing over the project, BSP Tabubil Branch Manager Aonega Aisi praised the strong partnership between the school administration and BSP in delivering an initiative tailored directly to student needs.“The 50for50 GivimBek Initiative enables our people to nominate meaningful projects and give back to communities, including their places of origin," Ms. Aisi said. "This project demonstrates what can be achieved through genuine partnership and a shared commitment to education.""ICT and digital literacy provide a practical pathway to self-learning, opportunity, and advancement. Every student needs access to a computer to build the skills required to learn, participate, and succeed in today’s digital world,” she added.School Principal Jerry Assong highlighted the logistical hurdles the school faces, noting that transporting specialized equipment into Tabubil remains an everyday challenge. He described the donation as a massive boost for the institution.“These assets will improve student learning outcomes by allowing ICT lessons to move beyond theory and into practical application," Mr. Assong remarked.Chairman of the Board of Governors Demas Tapia also expressed his gratitude, emphasizing how the upgraded laboratory would empower students to develop practical digital competencies.“This is an investment in the future of our children," Mr. Tapia said. "Students can now build confidence and capability. It provides a meaningful impact, especially since some children come from remote parts of the province where access to a computer is a luxury. Through BSP’s assistance, students now have the privilege to learn, opening up more opportunities to succeed in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) streams.”The Tabubil Secondary School project marks the sixth completed handover under the 50for50 GivimBek Initiative. Through this program, BSP is investing K2.5 million to deliver 50 distinct community projects—valued at K50,000 each—across Papua New Guinea to commemorate the nation’s 50th Independence Anniversary.

Kerowagi District in Chimbu province has marked the start of construction on a two-storey District Community Development Centre (DCDC), intended to bring government services and community programs closer to people in the electorate.A traditional 'Sanapim-Pos' groundbreaking ceremony was held on 29th September, following a Memorandum of Agreement signed in July between the Department for Community Development and Religion (DFCDR) and the Kerowagi District Development Authority (DDA).Minister for Community Development, Youth and Religion Jason Peter thanked the DDA and local community for supporting the project. He also acknowledged Kerowagi MP and Education Minister Francis Kikin Siune for backing the partnership.Peter said Kerowagi was the first district in Chimbu Province to work with his department to establish a DCDC. He described the centre as a way to make services more accessible, particularly for people who are often underserved.“People should not have to travel long distances simply to reach basic government support. This centre is intended to bring services closer to Kerowagi families, while giving vulnerable and marginalized groups a place where they can access assistance and take part in community programs,” Minister Peter said.He said the project supported the Government’s development priorities, including the Medium-Term Development Plan VI and Vision 2050, which focuses on extending services to districts, wards, and villages.“Reset PNG: Going Rural means directing development to the communities where most of our people live. But a building alone cannot deliver lasting change. The people of Kerowagi must work together, use the centre and take ownership of the opportunities it provides,” the Minister emphasized.Member for Kerowagi and Minister for Education, Francis Siune welcomed the agreement between DFCDR and the Kerowagi DDA, saying the centre would reduce the need for residents to travel to other towns to access services.“This centre is being planned as a practical service point for our people. With offices such as Civil Registry and Air Niugini represented here, residents will have more reasons to seek assistance locally rather than travelling to Kundiawa, Hagen or Goroka,” Minister Siune said.The proposed facility will also support programs for women, young people, older persons and people living with disability. Its aim is to provide a more accessible base for community development initiatives across the district.The ground-breaking ceremony signals the beginning of construction, while the partnership between DFCDR and the Kerowagi DDA sets out the project’s development framework.The centre’s longer-term impact will depend on the services established there and how effectively they reach communities throughout Kerowagi.

Opposition Leader James Nomane has issued a strong call for Papua New Guinea to dismantle the culture of "PNG Time"—a chronic pattern of lateness and delay—and urgently adopt accountability and efficiency across all government sectors and national institutions.He argues that persistent delays and poor service delivery should not be accepted as part of PNG’s culture and points to common experiences ranging from patients waiting for care in hospital corridors and business owners repeatedly following up government services, to travelers facing flight delays.Nomane acknowledged the work of nurses, teachers, police officers and public servants who continue to serve despite limited resources and delayed payments.“Mediocrity punishes the dedicated first.”He refences a recent LinkedIn commentary by Steve Morrish, Deputy Executive Director for Investigations, Intelligence, Assessments and Forensics at the PNG Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) on Air Niugini, arguing that delays and poor customer service are not limited to the public sector and can also affect private and state-owned organisations.“The rot is no longer confined to Waigani.”It further raises concerns about governance, money laundering, corruption, public-sector accountability, healthcare, electricity supply, medicine shortages and delays in processing government services.He cites Papua New Guinea’s grey-listing by the Financial Action Task Force in February 2026 and references findings from the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering’s 2024 Mutual Evaluation.Additionally, Nomane references the World Bank’s Worldwide Governance Indicators and organizational change research by John Kotter, alongside management principles associated with Peter Drucker, to argue that institutions need a stronger sense of urgency and clearer focus on results.He urged the Government to publish the names of suspended or sidelined departmental heads, the reasons for their removal and the substantive replacements appointed to their positions.“Endless acting appointments mean authority without accountability, positions without performance, and salaries without results.”Nomane called on departmental secretaries, chief executives and boards to lead by example, measure service delivery and address persistent delays. “That is not a dream. It is basic management.”“PNG Time is not culture. It is complacency. And complacency is a leadership choice.”

Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea Mr. Ewen McDonald on Thursday welcomed the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII men’s and women’s teams, together with the Australian Schoolboys and Schoolgirls teams, to Port Moresby ahead of fixtures on Saturday 3 October. The games celebrate the shared passion for rugby league that connects communities across Australia and Papua New Guinea. First played in 2005, the annual fixture has become one of the most significant sporting exchanges between the two countries, bringing together elite athletes, emerging players, and communities. On Friday, players will take part in community activities delivered through the Australian Government-supported League Bilong Laif program, promoting respect, inclusion and positive social outcomes in schools and communities. As excitement builds towards the PNG Chiefs’ inaugural season in 2028, the Prime Minister’s XIII fixtures also highlight the pathways rugby league can create and its power to inspire the next generation. High Commissioner McDonald said rugby league was one of the strongest connections between Australia and Papua New Guinea.“Rugby league is one of the strongest connections between Australia and Papua New Guinea. Every year, the Prime Minister's XIII fixture is a celebration of the deep friendship between our two countries and a reflection of the shared passion for rugby league that connects our communities. The players have an important role as ambassadors for their countries, helping build lasting connections through their engagement with communities throughout the week,” Mr. McDonald said. The NRL's Head of Performance, Pathways & Strategy, Mr. Brock Schaefer said the annual fixture showcased the broader impact of rugby league across the region. “Few sporting events capture the spirit of rugby league quite like the Prime Minister’s XIII. From elite athletes to emerging talent, this week showcases the pathways that our game can create, and the positive impact rugby league continues to have across PNG,” Mr. Schaefer said. The fixture provides an important platform for player development and showcasing emerging talent, particularly through the Schoolboys and Schoolgirls matches, which offer valuable international experience for emerging players, including Papua New Guinea’s Junior Kumuls and Junior Orchids. PNG Rugby Football League Chairman Sandis Tsaka said the fixture continued to inspire the next generation of Papua New Guinean players. “For Papua New Guineans, rugby league is more than a sport; it is part of our national identity. Hosting the Prime Minister’s XIII provides inspiration for our communities, for our young players and reinforces the belief that they can progress from local competitions to the highest levels of the game, including the international stage,” Mr. Tsaka said. 

Rick Ross has been arrested in Miami on two counts of felony battery, including one by strangulation, which allegedly involve domestic violence.The "Hustlin'" rapper, 50, was arrested around 5 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, on one charge of felony battery by strangulation and one charge of battery, both characterized as involving domestic violence, according to Miami-Dade County jail records viewed by USA TODAY. He was later released from the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $1,000 bond.Ross' former girlfriend Jazzma Kendrick, a Miami-based content creator with a background in real estate, was named as the victim of the music executive's alleged abuse, referred to by her initials and her last name in an arrest affidavit reviewed by USA TODAY.Days before she reported an alleged Aug. 28 domestic violence incident to the Miami Beach Police Department on Sept. 29, she shared in a series of Instagram stories that she had "left" him after his alleged physical abuse caused her a "busted lip," of which she shared a photo.USA TODAY has reached out to Kendrick and the arresting agency, Miami Beach Police Department, for more information.Ross' team denied any abuse occurred in a statement to USA TODAY."William Roberts II, professionally known as Rick Ross, is being wrongfully accused by an ex-girlfriend whose true motivations are unclear. The ex did not even file a police report until September 29, a month after the claimed incident allegedly took place on August 28, 2026," Steve Sadow, one of Ross' defense attorneys, said."Mr. Roberts is innocent and has pled not guilty to the charges. He respectfully requests that his friends, fans and the general public not prejudge the situation and allow the judicial process to run its course," he added.Ross' defense attorney, Bradley Horenstein, has filed a written plea of not guilty. An arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 22, and a stay-away order was entered as a pretrial condition.Ross, captured on video leaving the jail by TMZ, told the cameras, "I am totally innocent of these fabricated allegations against me." He added that he plans to be in Dubai on Friday, Paris on Saturday, and enjoying "a bowl of rigatoni with heavy marinara" on Sunday.In the domestic abuse allegations she shared with police, which are included in Ross' arrest affidavit, Kendrick said the incident stemmed from Ross being "enraged she was tagged in a photo on Instagram." She and Ross were "in a relationship for approximately one year and resided together at the time of the incident," police described.Ross allegedly accused her of lying to him about not being involved with another unnamed person and slapped and struck her as she repeatedly denied his allegations. She also accused him of choking her and slamming her against a wall.According to police, she "provided photographic evidence of her injuries with time stamps." Ross "surrendered himself voluntarily" at the police station on Oct. 1 and did not provide a statement.Rick Ross' relationships, prior prison time for assaultThe rapper has been romantically linked to Kendrick, model Lira "Galore" Mercer, fitness model Briana Camille and entrepreneur Cristina Mackey. He has five children from previous relationships: Toie, 24; William III, 21; Berkeley Hermès, 9; Billion Leonard, 7; and Bliss Roberts, 6.The "Aston Martin Music" rapper has faced assault allegations before. In 2015, he and a bodyguard were arrested in Georgia on kidnapping and assault charges, after both were accused of forcing a groundskeeper into a guesthouse and beating him in the head with a handgun over money he owed the rapper.Two years later, Ross pleaded no contest to a felony count of aggravated assault and five misdemeanors – assault, battery, cannabis possession and two counts of pointing a pistol at someone – and was sentenced to 60 months' probation and was required to pay a $10,000 fine. Since he was a first-time felony offender, the conviction was eventually erased from his record.He has also faced gun and marijuana charges.Source: USA TODAY

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says investigations suggest the man who stabbed his fellow pilot and tried to take over a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv had undergone "Islamist radical indoctrination".The Flydubai plane plunged more than 17,000ft (5,200m) two hours into its journey on Wednesday, before passengers and crew overpowered the attacker and retook control to land safely.Netanyahu told Fox News that it was looking "very likely" that the attacker, who he said was an Omani national, "was going to down the plane".Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) state news agency reports investigations have begun there to determine "whether the incident was linked to any terrorist activity or purpose".The Interior Ministry of Saudi Arabia - where the plane made an emergency landing - said that both the pilot and co-pilot had been sent back to the UAE on Thursday morning after medical teams had cleared them.UAE officials earlier claimed jurisdiction over the incident because the aircraft on which the attack took place is registered there and flies under its flag.Netanyahu told Fox that once the attacker had been subdued and tied up by passengers and crew, he was "calling out to the aircrew 'kill me, kill me', so it's clear he was suicidal - that's not a question"."And with all the passengers in there, and if you couple that with what I just told you about the Islamist tendencies, that radicalisation that were found in his background, I think... that'll give us a pretty good clue."However, he stressed that he did not want to draw any firm conclusions as to motive yet.Both US President Donald Trump and UAE officials have indicated to the media that Iran may be responsible for the incident, without definitively blaming Tehran.Trump told reporters on Thursday that Iran would be "hit very hard" if it was deemed to have been involved in the attack.Pilots from countries without diplomatic relations with Israel were usually not allowed to fly there, Netanyahu said when asked about how the suspected Omani pilot came to be on the plane.He added: "Obviously there was a loophole here and we're taking care of that among other things... with the full co-operation, I have to say, of the Emirati government, so we're both interested in making sure this doesn't happen again."Oman has not formally established official ties with Israel, unlike the UAE.The prime minister was also asked earlier on the same network whether there was an indication if Iran was involved, he replied: "It's too early to say".Both Netanyahu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the stabbed pilot, Indian national Capt Smit Machchhar was a "hero".India's ambassador to the UAE Deepak Mittal visited Captain Machhar in hospital on Thursday, the Indian Mission confirmed on social media, stating he was "in good health and recovering well".Preliminary findings from a separate Israeli investigation into the incident, suggest that the alleged attacker intended to crash the plane, an Israeli security source told BBC Arabic.The source said the investigation - led by Israel's intelligence agency Mossad - interviewed passengers after they arrived in Tel Aviv to establish what had happened on the plane.Flydubai's flight FZ1073, with more than 170 people on board, took off from Dubai International Airport in the UAE at 03:05 GMT (07:05 local time), en route to Ben Gurion Airport.Two hours later, the 17,000ft drop in altitude was reported on the plane tracking website Flightradar24 and minutes later the plane signalled an emergency code.At about 05:40, the plane - which had briefly entered Jordanian airspace - looped back into Saudi Arabia, where it later started its manual descent, landing safely at Tabuk Airport in the north west of Saudi.Flydubai has since suspended flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv as it carried out its own investigation into the incident.Israel's Transportation Ministry said the suspension aligns with Netanyahu's directive.Israeli airlines including El Al, Israir and Arkia said plans were in place to operate rescue flights from Dubai starting on Friday to bring back stranded passengers.The Transportation Ministry also said it sent an urgent request to Etihad Airlines to increase the number of flights between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv.Source: BBC News

The Indian pilot who fought off a savage attack by his copilot and helped prevent an apparent hijack of a Flydubai plane heading to Israel with more than 170 people on board is being hailed as a hero.Captain Smit Machchhar was stabbed while trying to fend off the attacker, leaving him badly wounded. During the struggle the cockpit door was opened, allowing other passengers to rush in, subdue his assailant, and take control of the plane that was enroute to Tel Aviv.Machchhar's actions have received widespread praise from political leaders, passengers who were onboard, and those who know him."Smit Machchhar is a talented, soft spoken, kind-hearted and a person with good nature," said Jinat Shah, who used to live next door to him in Mumbai before the pilot moved to Dubai. "He is an incredible person, and I hope for his fast recovery," Shah told Indian news agency ANI.Passengers who were on flight FZ1073 described those chaotic moments, during which the plane plummeted 17,400 feet in less than 120 seconds. One told CNN: "I was just sure I was going to die."But after the attacker was restrained, the flight was diverted to Saudi Arabia, where it was safely landed by two standby pilots who happened to be flying as passengersHis heroics came at a huge personal cost for Machchhar, reported to be a 39-year-old father of two.Images show showed a gruesome scene onboard following the attack, with blood splashed across the cockpit and the seriously wounded pilot lying on the floor, his pained face partially covered with a mask.Machchhar had suffered "massive blood loss" and was "severely wounded," dentist Shota Musaev, a passenger on the flight who helped treat him, told CNN."I think that if we had waited even a few more moments, we would have lost him; his blood pressure had plummeted, he suddenly lost consciousness, and there was blood everywhere," he said.His bravery "managed to prevent a 9/11 disaster," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told CNN.Machchhar is now receiving medical care at a hospital in Saudi Arabia, according to the Indian embassy in Riyadh, and is in stable condition.Celebrated as a heroBorn into a family in the textile business, becoming a pilot wasn't Machchhar's "childhood dream," he told the Bona-Fide Banter podcast in 2025.Initially, he'd enrolled in a textile engineering course after school."I finished the entire course, I still was young so wanted to (do) a little more studies," he said.Once he decided on flying, training took him to New Zealand, where he arrived aged around 19, in the southern city of Dunedin."He was always sort of a jovial young man and he tried hard," his instructor at the time Philip Kean told CNN.In a group photograph Kean shared from those days, Machchhar is easy to pick out. "He definitely got a smile of his own… he's sort of a happy, happy chap," said Kean, CEO of Mainland Air in Dunedin.Before joining Flydubai, Machchhar spent 11 years with Indian carrier SpiceJet, rising to the position of Senior Commander, according to his LinkedIn profile.Before Wednesday's incident, one of the most unusual situations he had faced during his over 15 years of flying was the birth of a baby on board.A woman on the plane, who was not at term, had started experiencing labor pains, Machchhar told the Bona-Fide Banter podcast. "Within 7-10 minutes, she was like, 'captain this is now advancing toward a delivery.'"Machchhar said he and the first officer started to check for the nearest airfields and conditions to make a safe landing. "Both the mother baby were fine, he added.Watching the news of Machchhar's heroic actions on the Flydubai flight from New Zealand, his former instructor Kean was full of praise for the young man he had once taught."It was an amazing feat," he told CNN."There could have been a whole airplane load of people wiped out in a matter of seconds, and luckily they got the door open… luckily he could hang on and save the day. Another half a minute would have been all over.""I'm very proud," he said. "I'm very proud that he handled that situation… It's great the way it turned out."Machchhar has become a national hero for two nations -- Israel, where most of the passengers hailed from, and his own home country, India."The pilot from Mumbai who proved to be a hero," wrote the Times of India."Viewers, if 166 Israelis go home tonight without a scratch, it is all down to the bravery of one single Indian, Captain Smit Machchhar," a CNN News-18 anchor said during his primetime program.Speaking on the podcast last year how it feels to be a pilot, Machchhar's answer was simple: "Blessed."Source: CNN

The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) Department of Education has implemented temporary half-day school schedules to combat the severe, localized impacts of the ongoing El Niño weather pattern across the region.Authorized under Secretary’s Circular Instruction No. 11/2026, schools in North Bougainville will temporarily operate only from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM noon, effective September 28, 2026.ABG Education Secretary Dorothy Kenneth emphasized that these urgent measures are designed to safeguard the health of students and teachers while ensuring academic continuity.The Department noted that environmental challenges vary significantly by district across Bougainville:North Bougainville: Experiencing severe drought conditions and critical water shortages.South Bougainville: Reporting continuous rainfall and localized flooding.Central Bougainville: Monitoring the situation closely, though no severe impacts have been reported yet.The Bougainville Education Board granted the Secretary emergency authority to approve half-day classes during a special meeting on September 26, following formal safety requests from heavily affected schools.New Operational GuidelinesEarly Dismissal: Students must vacate school grounds by 12:00 PM daily. They will be provided with take-home learning activities to sustain their studies.Teacher Support: Afternoons are reserved for teachers to source and organize essential water supplies for their households.Flexible Expansion: Affected schools in South and Central Bougainville may also adopt this half-day structure, subject to verified assessments from Head Teachers, District Education Officers, or Church Agencies.Activity Suspensions: All outdoor activities during school hours—including Physical Education, Practical Agriculture, and work parades—are suspended. School carnivals, bazaars, and fetes are also deferred.To remain open, schools must establish a dedicated School El Niño Committee to execute Standard Operating Procedures. Minimum health requirements include:Water Supply: Ensuring a minimum of two liters of water per student each day.Hygiene & Comfort: Maintaining functional, clean toilets and identifying shaded, cool assembly areas.First Aid: Securing access to oral rehydration salts and standard first aid kits.Reporting: Submitting weekly updates to the Department via District Education Officers.These emergency measures are slated to remain in place for one month and will be re-evaluated as updated school reports come in. The Circular Instruction is officially scheduled to expire at 5:06 PM on October 28, 2026, unless environmental conditions warrant an extension.The Department of Education urges all School Boards, administrations, teachers, parents, and partner agencies to strictly comply with these temporary directives.