Commission does not interfere in processes: Chairman

THE Teaching Service Commission (TSC) does not mistreat or hijack teachers’ retirement process, chairman Samson Wangihomie says.
Wangihomie was responding to PNG Teachers Association’s (PNGTA) call on media reports that the commission was abusing the retirement process and causing undue stress to the teachers.
“Under section 119 of the Teaching Service Act, any teacher who has reached the retirement age of 60 can write to us to ask for retirement and we retire them,” he said.
“Or even before they reach that age, the Teaching Service Commission writes to them to inform them they were nearing retirement age.
“We give them an advanced notice which is fair considering the fact that they have served the country so they can prepare for retirement during that year.
“At the end of the year, we can say that you have reached the age of retirement, your retirement is now effective as of this time.
“We don’t give them (member of teaching service) short notice.”
Wangihomie said it was easy for the commission to detect anyone who stayed over the age of 60.
“So we inform them that they’ve reached retirement age but we don’t tell them to retire immediately,” he explained.
“We inform them that their retirement will be effective on the day that school starts next year.”
Wangihomie also noted that the commission had been reliably informed that the PNGTA had taken out court proceedings against TSC on retirement.
“And we have been informed that court has already sat on them without our presence,” he said.
“We have not been appearing in court because we have not been served anything.
“We have been informed that they have got someone to represent us in court and we have not issued any instructions to anyone to represent us in court.
“We have not received anything from them and they are contesting retirement.
“I am calling on PNGTA to be professional.
“If they (teachers) are taking PNGTA to court or seeking redress on retirement proceedings, they should let me know so I can appear.
“I call on the court that is hearing this case to ask them why the TSC are not in court.”