Leadership training mandatory for departmental heads,says Sansan

DEPARTMENT of Personal Management secretary Taies Sansan says it is mandatory for all heads of government departments to undergo leadership trainings.
Sansan said these trainings would help test their knowledge and skills to test whether they were qualified or not to occupy management positions in public offices.
“Provincial and district administrators and public servants must receive this vital training which is consistent with the National Executive Council decision on public sector training policy called ‘sustainable, stable and systematic public sector training for improved service delivery’ and DPM’s public service human resource development strategic plan (2020-2050),” she said.
“Arrangements for this ‘recognition of prior learning ‘(RPL) have been made in advance.”
Sansan was speaking during the first orientation programme for the heads of various government departments who will be undergoing a flagship programme in advanced diploma of government – leadership and management.
Sansan, who is chairlady of the Pacific Institute of Leadership and Governance (Pilag) council, will be joining the six departmental heads during the training which ends in October. “Currently, there are about 128,000 public servants on the public service payroll system,” she said, adding that DPM would still recruit based on merits set by the Government.
Pilag chief executive officer Michael Baroi said the institution offered courses based on demand.
“We are trying to work in partnership with government to help develop programmes based on demands going forward,” he said.
“We have developed certain courses which audits were made before all courses were being offered.”
Baroi said the courses offered today were more current.
“It’s vital that all public servants, departmental heads, both acting and currently on the job including those aspiring to hold leadership roles, to undergo such trainings.”