Housing scheme for teachers

MORE than 70,000 Papua New Guinea Teacher’s Association members will benefit from a housing scheme to improve teacher accommodation that has been a perennial issue.
Papua New Guinea (PNGTA) general-secretary David Numbaming told The National that housing for teachers had been an ongoing concern with a lack of accommodation seeing many living in settlements, villages, in makeshift accommodation on campuses, or with relatives and renting.
“We want to help our members to get their own houses,” he said.
Numbaming said an agreement had been reached between the association and the National Housing Commission to allow a piece of land at the Duran Farm estate at 8-Mile in Port Moresby.
He said they were now working to ensure the land was law banded, water and power is secured for the teachers before sending applications out to the teachers to register.
He said applications would be sent out to the members next month to register.
Numbaming said priority would be given to the members of the association and later to non-members and retired teachers.
He urged the non-PNGTA members to get registered and be part of the team as only nine per cent of their salary would be deducted.
“Teacher members must know that this nine per cent deducted would not be refundable after retirement,” he said.
National president Aita Sanangkepe said members could use their Public Officers Superannuation Fund (POSF) savings.
According to Sanangkepe the houses ranged from K250,000 to K400,000 and teachers serving more than 30 years were guaranteed to be given the chance to buy a home of their choices.
He said the initiative would extend to other provinces as well.