Madang teachers to sign agreement with provincial government

By DOROTHY MARK
Teachers in Madang and the Madang provincial government are expected to sign an agreement before they resume duties next week.
Madang PNG Teachers’ Association president Remsy Oss said this yesterday after a meeting with hundreds of teachers who gathered at Tusbab Secondary School hall.
Oss said the teachers would remain on strike till the memorandum of agreement was drafted and explained to them.
Hundreds of students in Madang were again sent home this week.
About 5000 teachers in Madang, from more than 500 schools, continued their sit-in strike over outstanding leave fares for 2017 and 2018 when school began last week.
Oss said teachers had all agreed that they would take that action so that Madang government paid them their outstanding leave fares of K4.5 million for 2017 and K1.3 million for 2018 .
All students were turned away from schools while teachers sat around and waited for a positive response.
“We are not asking for a new thing, but simply asking for what’s owed to us,” Oss said.
Oss expected provincial government officials to discuss the matter with him as president of the PNGTA, but no one attempt.
Various town schools put up notices at their gates, stating that the all school children should return home because teachers were still on strike.
Madang acting administrator John Bivi last week asked teachers to resume duties whilke something was worked out.
Governor Peter Yama said he would investigate how leave fares meant to be paid to the teachers in 2017 were not paid.
Meanwhile, a public forum will be held today for parents to air their concerns over the teachers’ strike.