An increase in vacancies but fewer teachers

THE Papua New Guinea Teachers Association (PNGTA) is concerned that  teaching vacancies are increasing while the number of teachers is reducing.
“There are 11,000 vacancies in the teaching service where there is a need for an increase in the number of new teachers to take up the posts,” PNGTA general secretary Ugwalubu Mowana said this week.
He said having the continuing vacancies was affecting the teacher to student ratios, causing overcrowding of students in classrooms. 
Mowana said the Education Department would not achieve its visions and offer quality education if this was not addressed.
He said, in recent months, more teachers were either resigning for better paid jobs while others were retiring. 
Mowana said teachers, who hold the key to the implementation of any education reforms, deserved better treatment.                           
He also highlighted the Teaching Service Act 1998, section 1; (134) which calls for additional benefits and allowances and special conditions of services for teachers.
Mowana said this week the union had met with the Teaching Service Commission last week after several delays and arrived at a “certain understanding”.
“We have not signed any agreement yet but we have come to a certain understanding,” he said.
Mowana added that the important aspect of PNGTA calls were for teachers’ allowances to be projected to about K200 per fortnight.
Meanwhile, PNGTA Highland’s regional secretary Peter Wama, added that teacher retention rate should also be addressed so that teachers did not leave the teaching service for “greener pastures” such as the LNG and other related projects.