A SIMMERING anger is brewing among teachers who are likely to miss out on their leave fares yet again.
In the National Capital District, over 300 teachers are still waiting for their leave entitlements. The frustrated teachers filled the NCD Education office at Waigani yesterday demanding to know the reason for the delay in having their travel home for holiday arranged.
“This delay has caused a lot of inconveniences for us,” one teacher, who asked not to be named, said.
Application forms for teachers requiring travel were filled and submitted in July.
School year ended for schools in the country last week.
The teachers complained that they had been checking the office since October but they were always advised to come back at another time.
They also said the Education Office had changed their travel agents without their knowledge, causing further confusion and disharmony.
An officer from the Education Office contacted yesterday refused to give information on the matter, saying it was an internal issue.
It Mt Hagen, teachers learnt that a shortfall in funding meant some of them will not travel home for Christmas.
And the Western Highlands Teacher’s Association has given the Department of Western Highlands until next week to sort out the issue or face disruptions in the 2008 academic year.
Association president Aita Singape, speaking on behalf of 4,000 teachers in the province, said teachers were angry that funds might have been diverted, causing the shortfall.
About K1.8 million is required to fully fund travel for teachers, but they learnt that only K1.3 million was available.
Western Highlands Governor Tom Olga, who was present during the meeting, said if funds were budgeted for the teachers’ leave fares, it should be there.
Mr Olga said if the leave fare funds had been misappropriated or used for other purposes, than those responsible should be held liable for their decisions and actions.
He said the money should be re-couped and re-diverted for its original purpose.
Mr Singape said that last year they faced similar problems and do not want a repeat.