Call backed to dissolve WHP education board

THE National Education Board is urged to dissolve the provincial education board in Western Highlands and appoint people capable of raising the standard of education.
PNG Teachers’ Association Highlands regional secretary John Melson was supporting the call by the Catholic Archbishop of Mt Hagen Douglas Young to reject teacher postings unilaterally made by the provincial education board to church-owned schools.
Melson said the board was repeating the same mistake by not consulting the church on the appointment of teachers.
“We have been taking this matter to the court but they keep repeating the same mistakes,” Melson said. He said the Catholic Archdiocese rejected the teachers appointed.
“Why is the PEB not complying with the Education Act in teacher appointments?” Melson said.
“The bodies which were supposed to be present to make the appointments were absent. I do not know how the PEB came up with the appointments.” Melson said there were some officials who were trying to abuse the system.
He said that according to the Teachers’ Service Act and the National Education Act, the provincial education adviser should be the board chairman.
But in Western Highlands, the chairman is appointed.