Ialibu Secondary School incident

THE recent destruction of properties and loss of lives at Ialibu Secondary School in Southern Highlands is regretfully a preventable loss.
Apart from the police investigations that will be conducted, PNG Teaching Services Commission (TSC) has to also inform taxpayers and victims publicly on how it intends to deal with its employees who instigated this mayhem.
On the back of this incident, TSC should also consider taking ownership of the head teacher positions in schools across the country.
The head teacher’s position is now becoming a contentious issue with the arrival of tuition fee-free policy.
The Ialibu incident is one of many incidences of head teacher impasses that happen yearly at the beginning of the academic year, affecting schools nationwide.
Parents, teachers and students are simply fed up with this.
TSC has to take a bold stand now and immediately suspend the officers who have one way or the other instigated this trouble.
Assure us taxpayers and victims that justice will be served for the loss of properties, lives and of education time.
Furthermore, as a deterrent to future similar incidents, TSC has to do a review on its teacher appointment bylaws.
This review should look at taking back the role of appointing head teachers from the provincial education board.
Have an independent committee or an established human resources management firm to do the head teacher appointment.
This will allow for qualified people who have passed through the formal teacher inspections system.
They will have shown competency to be appointed on merit and also eliminate the horse-trading of this position with PEB appointment committee members.
The country is investing so much of taxpayers’ money on the TFF policy.
Therefore, qualified persons must be appointed so that the output reflects the investment.
TSC, as the employment body of teachers, is liable for the actions of its employees who are the implementers.
They both must be held accountable to the people of Papua New Guinea for their actions – to ensure that a quality education is achieved.

Jackson Korave