Governor asked to probe teachers’ leave fare crisis

National, Normal
Source:

The National –Friday, January 7, 2011

 By DULCIE OREKE

PAPUA New Guinea Teachers Association (PNGTA) general secretary Ugwalubu Mowana has called on Madang Governor James Gau to look into leave fare issue currently faced by teachers in the province.

Mowana said it was “absurd” and unfair for teachers who had been waiting since last month for their leave entitlements.

Following The National’s front page story yesterday, Mowana reiterated earlier calls for the National Education Board (NEB) decision to have teachers leave fares paid out in cash.

He said a way to address the matter would involve NEB indicating this in a form of circular to have it binding or have it as a general order.

When told of the teachers’ intensions of delaying their resumption of duty, he said it was a normal human reaction in response to their frustrations. 

Mowana, who is currently on leave, said the union’s office should be opened on Monday.

He said PNGTA was looking forward to achieving some its major projects this year that included fixing teachers’ salaries and the HIV/AIDS project.

Gau said that teachers would still be entitled to their leave fares and added that it was the administrative process that was causing the delay.

He said he sympathised with the teachers for not going on holiday but with all government departments still on holiday, the fares were being delayed.

Gau said the division of education was going to fast-track the leave fares with the Department of Finance and have them paid out before teachers resume duties.