Over 200 students sent home as staff shortage leads South Malekula Secondary School to shut its doors following the suspension of more than half of the teachers.

Acting Principal Mr Frank Kenneth explained, “There are over 5 teachers at South Malekula Secondary School that had been suspended and they are government teachers.”

The staff shortage is critical, with the school now having only three teachers to manage all classes from Year 7 to Year 10. Kenneth said, “There are no authorisation from the Province or TSC for us to shut down the school, but it’s a decision made by the school staff to close because a high number of staff are suspended from school with no one to look after the students.”

South Malekula Secondary has a total of nine teachers, eight of whom are government employees, with the school employing only one directly. With five teachers suspended and another on leave, the staff has become insufficient to cover all classes, forcing the school’s closure.

The Education Office in Malampa Province confirmed to VBTC News that they did not issue any instruction to close the school, but the office is “working urgently to resolve this issue.”