PNGTA praises court decision

 THE Papua New Guinea Teachers’ Associations in the Highlands has applauded the Supreme Court decision re-instating five teachers sacked by the Teaches’ Services Commission for taking part in the 2006 teachers’ nationwide strike.

PNGTA (Highlands) spokesman David Numbanming said teachers in the region were grateful for the June 26 decision.

Numbanming said since 2007, they had gone through many court battles with the PNGTA and TSC.

He said PNGTA had a duty to protect their members’ welfare but had failed and the court had proved the five had been wrongfully terminated.

“This court decision defeats the purpose of this current TSC led by president Tommy Hecko continuing to occupy their office.”

He said the TSC  and administration must voluntarily resign for failing to carry out their mandated constitutional duties to serve the interest of teachers.

Numbanming added that there was no current TSC representative from the highlands region as their representative had resigned two years ago.