Briefs

Sori responds to concerns
THE provincial administration, not the Teaching Service Commission, has the power to discipline provincial education officers who fail to do their jobs, says commission chairman Baran Sori, pictured. Sori was responding to concerns raised by teachers who were taken off the payroll recently over delay by provincial education officers in submitting their resumption of duty summary sheets to the pay office in Port Moresby.

Godly principles important
TEACHING godly principles to children at an early age is important to produce quality students who will become agents of change in their societies. This is according to the deputy principal of Zion Zeal Christian School in Port Moresby, Jonathan Kapak.

God comes first, says MP
Wabag MP Dr Lino Tom, pictured, said at a gathering in Enga that leaders who hold public office are at the lowest order of the leadership hierarchy in humanity and God sits at the top of the order. Below him were pastors and teachers. “Then we have teachers near the pastors,” Tom said at an event last week in the Ambum Valley in Kompiam-Ambum district, marking the 50th anniversary of Mapai Transport and Logistics company owner Jacob Luke, who started his elementary prep in 1969 at the Kundis Lutheran Primary School.

Crocodile Prize opens
The Crocodile Prize, Papua New Guinea’s national literary contest, is now open for 2019. The award will be given for the piece of writing judged to have best explored traditional customs, beliefs and stories, and promotes Papua New Guinea’s cultural heritage. Former kiap Bob Cleland believes that any society benefits from being aware of its social and cultural heritage.

Education ties important
PARTNERSHIP between the Education Department and private schools is very important to enhance the delivery of quality education to young people in the country, an official says. Maxton Essy, who is the first assistant secretary for provincial service and chairman for school registration and compliance division at the Education Department, said this in Port Moresby recently when issuing certification to Zion Zeal Christian School in Port Moresby as a certified and permitted secondary school provider in the country.

Project commissioned
THE K400 million Port Moresby Sewerage System Upgrading Project was commissioned recently. The project was completed with funding from the Papua New Guinea Government (K125 million) and a K275 million concessional loan from the Japan International Agency. Public Enterprise and State Investments Minister William Duma, pictured, said: “This sewerage facility in Joyce Bay, near Kilakila will treat and refine waste for discharge into the sea.”

Call to address land grabbing
CHAIRMAN of the Wamp Nga Group of companies, Wai Rapa, is calling on the Lands Department and responsible authorities to address land grabbing in the country. Rapa said this had become a prolonged issue in major centres like Port Moresby, Lae and Mt Hagen where authorities kept turning a blind eye to it.

New administrator named
LAMILLER Pawut is the New Ireland administrator following a swearing-in ceremony held at Government House in Port Moresby last Tuesday. Governor Sir Julius Chan said Pawut was deserving of the position as he came from a broad professional background, including regional experience.