Minister explains pay cut

The National Main Stories

THE cut in teachers’ pay last week was an annual auto suspension exercise by the Education Department to ensure that only teachers who continued to teach after the resumption of the new academic year are paid, Minister Joseph Yopyyopy says.
He said the 2020 auto suspension date was Pay No.6, but a grace period of two fortnights was given.
“Hence, Pay No.8 (last week) was the deadline for auto suspension of those teachers who are assumed not to have resumed teaching in 2020,” he said in response to queries about the pay cuts.
“As a result, on Pay No.8 (April 10), a total of 14,559 teachers were to be suspended.
However, this number was further reduced with manual reversals and only 6,913 were suspended as per the payroll report.”
Yopyyopy called on teachers who had not submitted their resumption forms to see their provincial salary offices so that appropriate action could be taken and they could be restored on payroll.
“While the auto suspension was taking place, the Finance Department continued to pay the Consumer Price Index (CPI) payments for 2019,” he added.
Yopyyopy said the payments began on Pay No.2 (Jan 7) and continued to Pay No.8, and would continue for the next four pay dates.
“Teachers who have been on the payroll in 2019 and are affected by the auto suspension will have received the CPI payment only. Hence, there is no pay cut.
“Please contact your provincial salary office should you have any further queries. I also urge you to see your inspector (and) register for the My PaySlip App to get the details of your salary,” Yopyyopy advised teachers.

12 comments

  • Good start.
    Can the government actually go back to old system of using timesheets or we have no trust in our bosses?
    Advanced countries still use timesheets.
    Only in PNG the unexpected happens.

  • Thanks for the news we are some the affected teachers,Thiught we’ve currently physically presented on the school ground and performing our professional duties,we are yet being overlooked and neglected by some of our provincial and district EDUCATION authorities..

  • Minister at the time C19 I think you have I don’t care attitude for your hard working teachers, how do you them the victims to look after their family in this time of globe crisis.I suggest you immediately place them on pay under the humanitarian grounds until such time when the pandemic is over.

  • About time such policies are put in place, especially for the Rural Areas.

    Such neglect from certain individuals, in the past couple of years have in fact put a lot of setbacks for those Committed Teachers, as well as the Students.

    My only concern is that, to ensure that this exercise is utilized to the best of its intend with no repulsing or negativity, the Education Department should ensure that proper monitoring mechanisms are put in place.
    Lets “Take Back PNG” in all fronts

  • Explanation given by the Minister straight forward and procedurally correct. The issue however is the effectiveness and the competencies of the Provincial Salaries Officers. Time and again these officers continue to fail in getting teachers appropriately and timely paid by ensuring their resumption papers are duly submitted to NDOE. New Ireland Province is a case in point. So the way to address the problem is simple. When you assess the system to be working fine, then it is the responsible human beings in the clog that are the cause of the problem. I say the Minister should get his Department to seriously consider terminating incompetent and complacent Provincial Salaries Officers.

  • Teaching is one of the most important professions in today’s world. Teachers has to be valued in all means. However, Papua New Guinea respondents hierarchical or ranked school teachers far lower in the survey. Papua New Guinea, the social status of teachers was seen as most analogous to that of social workers which is authentically objectionable, without realizing that teachers play a critical role in improving learning.

    Though teacher’s absenteeism is an important problem in Papua New Guinea. The Government had to send a R & D [Research & development] team to all schools to assess and improve teachers’ concerns. Education is certainly a ultimate perspective in the progression of a Country. After all teachers are like the candle that chomps or consumes itself to light the way for others prosperity.

    Enoch MacTeine Agiyonga
    Giriyu Village_ West Kongo
    Chuave, Chimbu Province

  • How can I know if I’m paid the CPI? According to the above article, the Finance Department started paying out CPI in Pay 2 in January, 2020 and will continue. May our good minister also explain this, please? Thank you.

  • You all urban teachers a OK because you all will be updated with all information what about rural teachers Education Minister you think first before you implement this type of payment process.

  • Why did my pay cut this fortnight?
    I am always on the school ground
    Yet this pay a total of k100 was removed from my net.
    Why,why,,,,,,

  • I thought that when our pay rise,it stays as it is why are we facing pay cut s again…
    Pls government do something and dont let teachers down..

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