Association needs a big shake-up in its mission

CAREERS

By HENZY YAKHAM
PAPUA New Guinea Teachers Association (PNGTA) is the country’s largest public sector union with many of its members serving in some remotest and isolated parts where there are no other government services.
And, teachers will continue to perform the too important task of being front-line implementors of government’s policies on education. Their performance will determine the end result of achieving national government policies as well as PNG’s international commitment such as the Global Education for all.
For our teachers to perform and deliver what is expected of them, it is only fair that their welfare issues are addressed properly by their employer.
This is where the PNGTA, collective mouth-piece of the nation’s teachers is placed to act for and on behalf of them.
As has been previously, the PNGTA must continue to work closely with all relevant State agencies and stakeholders to improve the employment conditions and welfare of teachers.
Foremost, the union officials have a paramount duty to its financial members – not getting into office for self-gains.
There have been publicly reported instances of outright theft and unjust enrichments by certain individuals at the expense of faithful and dedicated fortnightly contributors to the association.
Hopefully by raising more awareness and continued conversation such as this will help end blatant disregard to the rule of law, abuse or processes, theft, misuse of funds, etc.
Needs stressing is that serving teachers who will volunteer to seek endorsement for union executive positions in the coming elections must strictly adhere to the laws governing election as stipulated by the PNGTA Constitution.
In other words, individuals with hidden motives/agendas must never be allowed to hijack procedures and processes to hold executive positions in the PNGTA.
Those who will be entrusted to perform specific union tasks must truthfully and diligently do their day jobs in accordance with laws, processes and practices. Simply, this means those vying for PNGTA posts must go by the books.
Important also are public servants who will oversee the election of new executives of PNGTA to do their jobs properly by upholding the rule of law in all their decisions and conducts.
The PNGTA is guided by its own constitution and by-laws, which defines the roles and responsibilities of the national, regional and provincial executives as well as all other related functions.
On April 10 2008, the revised constitution was adopted at PNGTA’s 14th Triennial Congress meeting in Alotau, Milne Bay.
The management structure includes the National Management Committee (NMC), made up of the National President, National Vice President, National Treasurer, National Women’s representative and two regional representatives each from the four regions, one male and one female.
Since inception, PNGTA has grown in membership and maturity in dealing with teachers’ issues and concerns as well as striving to make meaningful contribution to PNG’s education sector.
In the past, the union progressed achieving for its members’ substantial salary increases and other entitlement benefits.
PNGTA has a duty to maintain harmonious industrial relations with the National Government, the Teaching Service Commission (TSC), National Department of Education (NDOE) and other stakeholders.
In the recent past, the PNGTA has been plagued with controversies including breach of its own constitution.
The so-called 2019-2020 PNGTA election and purported executives were not officially declared resulting in a successful court challenge.
As a result, and for some time, the National Department of Education and the Teaching Services Commission refused to work with the purported PNGTA executives.
In public interest and information, let us look at the 2019-2020 PNGTA election:
Fact One – On Sept 3, 2019, the Chairman of Teaching Services Commission Baran Sori wrote to current purported PNGTA President, Sanangkepe Aita (00126489) regarding “Compulsory Retirement”.
“The Teaching Services Commission is satisfied that you have passed the compulsory retirement age of 60 as confirmed by your records of service. It has therefore made a decision to retire you from the Teaching Service in accordance with the provisions under Section 1 19 (3) of the Teaching Service Act of 1988,” Sori explained.
He further stressed that “your retirement takes effect from Jan 21, 2019 since you failed to physically resume duties at your appointed teaching location.
“Officer in Charge of Teachers’ Salaries Section in Mount Hagen is being advised of this decision through a copy of this letter, so that necessary action is taken to proves your retirement entitlements,” Sori said.
Copies of this letter were given to Western Highlands Provincial Education Advisor, Appointment Officer with the Division of Education in Mt Hagen, Assistant Secretary Payroll Division, Team Leader Employee Service Team 2 (NDOE), Executive Officer EMACO and TSC Advisor Western Highlands.
Sori’s letter to Sanangkepe was well before the PNGTA elections were held later in 2019 and into 2020.
Despite Sori’s explicit compulsory retirement letter to Sanangkepe, he was allowed to contest the PNGTA election by the facilitators.
Fact two – The purported election of Sanangkepe and other PNGTA executives were successfully challenged in the National Court.
In OS 19 of 2020 (CCI) (IECMS), Tessie Haroharo was the plaintiff.
The first and second defendants were Alice Guguna as Returning Officer and PNG Electoral Commission respectively.
The third defendants were; Aita Sanangkepe, Esther Tony, Vinncianna Auru and Synell Ko’ou as purported elected executives of PNGTA.
Fourth defendant was Helen Saleu in her capacity as Registrar of Industrial Organisation.
Deputy Chief Justice Amben Kandakasi ruled that the purported election of the PNGTA executives breached the union constitution.
The court orders of June 5 2020 were:
1. This matter is adjourned to return on Wednesday 10th June 2020 at 9:30 am or soon thereafter for parties to confirm settlement.
2. In the light of the election the subject of this proceeding not being conducted in accordance with constitutionally prescribed process, the parties are required to explore options for resolution and overcoming the challenge of legitimising or if not having an election process that meets the requirement of Papua New Guinea Teachers Association’s Constitution.
3. For time for entry of these orders is abridged to take place forthwith upon the Court signing the Orders.
Paragraph 2 of the Order is in no uncertain terms- unless the order is set aside, the Order remain with the Court have made a preliminary finding that the 2019-2020 PNGTA elections were not conducted in accordance with the PNGTA constitution.
Following the court orders above, the parties did not resolve the contested issues including:

• Voting not conducted by postal voting as required by law (but by normal voting);
• Only 16,000 ballot papers were issued. Of that about 8,000 votes were counted leaving out over two thirds of members who did not vote;
• Ballot boxes for Morobe and Gulf provinces not counted;
• Tempering of ballot papers in the Highlands region with PNGTA members not voting;
• Non-existence of addresses of PNGTA members in the register of members; and
• Lack of funding for the election.

The PNGTA is responsible to keep the register of its members.
As well, PNGTA is responsible to providing funds for election of its officer bearers. Among financial members of the PNGTA and thousands of other teachers PNG-wide there still remain many questions about the genuineness and real motives of individuals who seek positions in the union.

Way forward
The PNGTA general elections are due in the coming months to elect the union executives.
It is incumbent on all relevant individuals and State agencies responsible to ensure all laws, rules and processes are strictly followed.
Specifically, the Office of the Industrial Registrar and the assigned PNG Electoral Commission personnel who will oversee the coming PNGTA election must strictly adhere to the rule law.
Both State agencies are duty bound to ensure that corrupt conduct and illegal acts do not creep into the coming PNGTA elections.
As well, those currently in positions of trust with PNGTA are also duty bound to furnish the Office of Industrial Registrar and Electoral Commission factual information for proper conduct of the elections.
The current custodians of PNGTA accounts and monies must make available adequate funds for the running of come PNGTA elections.
On the part of PNGTA financial member, be the good teacher you are and not allow yourselves to be fooled into voting for non-financial or non-contributing individuals to PNGTA executive posts.
Every financial member has a duty to elect the right individuals, who are currently serving members of the teaching profession for PNGTA executive posts.
The individuals you elect will have mammoth tasks ahead to do much cleaning work, re-building and restoration, instil trust and confidence as well as sanity in PNG largest public sector union.
PNGTA represents thousands of dedicated men and women who have volunteered to serve in the noble profession of teaching.
Whist you all have a duty to serve Papua New Guinea as a nation, you equally have an obligation to elect honest and hardworking individuals who will serve you with humility in your own union.
The individuals you elect to the next PNGTA National Management team must possess the qualities of fair, transparent and accountable leadership.
The new incoming PNGTA executives must be young, vibrant and energetic, possess higher learning institutions (university level) qualifications, proven management track record, have wide range of government contacts, negotiation skills and sound judgement.
These qualities are important because it will help the PNGTA adopt a more responsible role as a front-line stakeholder in PNG’s education sector.
That is to make inputs and recommendations in important matters affecting the whole public education system of the nation.
The leaders voted into office in the coming election will be responsible to make important and valuable contributions to the union movement in PNG to promote workers’ rights and maintain industrial harmony.
The new PNGTA executives must put the interest and well-being of its financial members ahead of all else.
That executive must endeavour to restore trust and confidence among members by embarking on some new innovative projects and programmes for its membership
In the ever-evolving 21st Century Papua New Guinea, PNGTA as a union needs to move ahead with the changing times making sound decisions for and on behalf its members.