Teachers fare issue settled

By JUNITA SOL GOMA
Tension around the offices of the Education Department at Fincorp Haus-Waigani, yesterday, gradually subsided when the National Education Department stepped in to assist the NCD office in securing the needed K700,000 to cover the total cost for the teachers’ leave fares.
Acting secretary for Education Luke Taita informed The National yesterday that the situation was now under control.
Mr Taita said it was the responsibility of each provincial government division to budget for leave fares for those teachers belonging to other provinces serving in their provinces.
He added that in the case of NCD, the responsibility lies with the NCD education division and the delay of payments of leave fares was due to a shortfall in the budget allocation for the NCD teachers’ leave fares. “The actual amount for leave fares for teachers in NCD is K2.9 million but currently only K2.2 million is available.”
The department held talks with the Treasury Department and the secretary for finance yesterday to secure the remaining funds to make up for the shortfall.
Deputy assistant secretary for teaching and education standards, Damien Rapese said all division and branch heads in the department were regularly reminded of their roles and responsibilities and such a situation could have been avoided. Mr Taita and Mr Rapese are confident that the Treasury Department will assist the NCD teachers with the sorely needed K700,000.
They are optimistic and feel that NCD teachers leave fares should be ready by next week.
Meanwhile, the provincial administrator in Mt Hagen had already submitted a letter to the Treasury Department to assist teachers there in securing their leave fares.