By JUNITA SOL GOMA
Teachers’ issues will be the major talk for this year as the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) and the PNG Teachers Association (PNGTA) put their heads together to find ways of improving some areas for teachers’ conditions.
Chairman for TSC Michael Pearson told The National that negotiations would start today.
“The PNGTA has already given us a list of things they want improvement on and we will bring in our terms and conditions and hopefully reach some compromise by the middle of this year.”
Mr Pearson said that among other issues for negotiation were claims for teachers’ salary increase, changes in allowances (housing allowance) and of course, finding a better way on how to process teachers’ leave entitlements so as to put an end to the problems associated with end-of-year leave fares.
He said further that in future, if any teacher had problems with their leave fares, they must contact him or his office so that they would do their best to sort out the problem.
“Most teachers for this year did not inform my office immediately and we were not aware of it until it was reported in the media,” Mr Pearson said.
Meanwhile, the TSC has appealed to all teachers to resume duties on time.