Grade 10 students of Malalaua High School in Kerema District sat for their National Examination this week despite the water shortage situation which has affected the area since April.
"The water shortage situation is there but students education is the priority, especially the grade 10s who have been given priority due to their exams to come back," said the headmistress of the school Mrs Pauline Omohae.
The Malalaua High School administration has only allowed for grade 10s to come back to school since the resumption of term two weeks ago while keeping more than 200 grade nine students at home until the grade 10s go away after the exam.
According to the school's administration this has been done for two main reasons, for the water shortage caused by El Nino and also for the decreased amount of second quarter subsidy funds to sustain food rations for the students.
The amount of money given as Tuition Free Fee Funds (TFFE) for the school was not enough to cater for the running of the school and that was why this action had been taken, said Mrs Omohae.
She said that grade 9 students will be coming back on Sunday the 18th of October after getting good news of the Gulf Provincial Government allocating K200,000 to assist the school for the rest of the term.
Meanwhile grade 10s throughout Gulf Province from 6 high schools and 2 secondary schools sat for their exams this week and are due to complete the last exam today.