Caritas denies allegations

 By SAMSON JOHN

A CHURCH-run school in Port Moresby has denied claims of discriminating against pregnant PNG women teachers.

The administration of Catholic-run Caritas Technical Secondary said it had never asked its women teachers to resign or vacate the school in its 20 years of existence.

The school was prompted to comment after concern was raised in a letter to the editor published in The National on Jan 14 claiming that when women teachers were found to be pregnant, they were called on to resign and vacate the school administration.

The school’s director Sr Florentina Cho expressed disappointment,  saying the claims were ‘fabricated lies’ to damage the school’s reputation to serve one’s interests.

“Ever since the school was established 20 years ago, we have never discriminated against any national female teachers who are pregnant,” Cho said.

“In fact, we are helpful and caring towards them during their pregnancies leading up to the delivery.”

She said last year they had five teachers who fell pregnant and they supported them right through until they gave birth and resumed their duties later.

Principal Esther Mwayemwanna said it was the school’s policy that whenever a teacher was pregnant, she was to inform the administration so that they could arrange a replacement during maternity leave.

“This is because we don’t want our students to miss lessons because of a teacher’s absence,” Mwayemwanna said.

“Recently, we had a situation where a female teacher was hiding her pregnancy from us and I found out after she sneaked off the school without informing us.

“When I approached her, she admitted that she went to the clinic for her pregnancy check-up.”

Mwayemwanna said that as a church-run school, they did not entertain dishonesty and deception so the teacher was asked to  resign.

“Until now, after informing her to voluntarily resign, she is still accommodated at our residence,” she said.

 Mwayemwanna appealed to people who had concerns to consult her for verification before going out publicly, especially in the media.

“I want to make it clear to the public, especially our stakeholders and friends, that the claims are false and untrue.

“They have tarnished the good name of the school and it is not fair.

“If you have a concern, come to us and we can discuss,” she said