East Sepik teachers still waiting for tickets

National, Normal

SOME teachers in East Sepik province were still waiting for their tickets outside the Air Niugini office in Wewak yesterday despite the payment of more than K250,000 made by the Education Department as leave fares for them to travel home.
Provincial education advisor Pius Munkaje said a cheque for K250,376.80 was paid to Air Niugini on Dec 14.
Mr Munkaje said the tickets were electronic tickets which could not be exchanged for money and were valid for 12 months.
He also said that teachers travelling out of Wewak might encounter technical problems at Tokua airport in Rabaul, however The National later confirmed that flights in and out of Rabaul were operating normally.
He said Grade Nine selections, school fee limits set and teachers’ postings to high schools and vocational centres for all areas in Wewak  have been completed but are still waiting for the provincial education board’s endorsement.