Penalising not TSC’s job: Official

By JINA AMBA
THE PNG Teachers Association (PNGTA) has raised concern over the charging and suspension of teachers for misusing school funds.
PNGTA general secretary David Numbaming said it was not the job of the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) to charge and suspend teachers.
However, TSC chairman Samson Wangihomie told The National that TSC had the power to charge head teachers or deputy head teachers.
Numbaming said school inspectors were at the provincial level to monitor the progress of school operations and not the TSC.
He said TSC was not doing the right thing and was not treating teachers well.
But Wangihomie said TSC delegated the task to inspectors.
He said TSC had the power to suspend or charge teachers using its lawyers if they had allegations of misappropriation of school funds.
Meanwhile, the PNGTA executives have been told to get their house in order to be recognised by the Education Department and TSC.
TSC commissioner for policy, Joel Nava, said this in response to PNGTA’s claim that it had been excluded from being part of the national education board and from important meetings.
Nava said TSC did not recognise the current executives of the PNGTA as its composition was in breach of the Industrial Act dealing with which individuals could hold executive positions.
He said this did not mean that teachers’ interests, welfare and issues would not be addressed.
However, PNGTA president Aita Sanangkepe said the executives had been voted by its members to represent the teachers.