Teachers to know the progress of leave fares today

By ALISON ANIS
THE status of when ‘frustrated’ teachers’ will be receiving their leave fare entitlements will be revealed today when officials of the education office in Waigani resume work after the New Year break.
More than 500 teachers in NCD, Central and other provinces have threatened to boycott classes this year if the Education Department failed to comply with their demands to release their year-end entitlements.
Leave fares for teachers were not released towards the end of last year leaving teachers from other provinces teaching within NCD and outer stations, frustrated and angry.
An officer from the Education office said yesterday that the Secretary for Education Dr Joseph Pagelio and the Education Minister Michael Laimo would deal with the situation when they officially resume duties.
Education secretary for NCD Tau Nauna said last month that they would resolve the situation soon and commented briefly on the new system for leave applications to begin in May this year to avoid such problems.
According to Mr Nauna, the new system would enable teachers to submit their leave applications early in order to receive their leave fares and entitlements in the third quarter.