Expect more shortage of teachers

 I WAS amazed to read the front page of The National that was published last Wednesday.

I feel that this is the starting point of the mass of teachers who are beginning to get out of the so-called classroom to look for greener pastures as the government cannot look after them. 

It will not be a surprise if more than 2,000 teachers resign by the end of this year as 1,751 teachers resigned last year according to PNGTA. 

I believe teachers are the lowly paid public servants in Papua New Guinea. For instance, the salary of a teacher who is on a base level position is K506. 

This is a gross pay but after several deductions like government tax and superannuation, the net is just around K380.

How can you survive with such lousy amount in a country where prices of goods and services are continuously increasing?

If government can’t think of the teachers as the back bone of this developing nation let the parliamentarians, administrators and advisors come to the classroom to teach their kids and teachers should look out for opportunities else where.

Puman Wane

Via email