PNGTA president’s term extended

By GLORIA BAUAI
THE 16th triennial PNG Teachers Association congress has resolved to extend the current president Aita Sangkepe’s term to 2025.
As per the PNGTA constitution governing its operations, an election of executives including the national management committee is to be held every three years.
The term of current executives elected into office in 2019 ends this year.
A submission to amend the constitution from three years to five years election was brought to the floor of congress and accepted by members and NMC.
Sangkepe said it is now up to the office of the industrial registrar to either enforce, reject or review this amendment.
The extension of his term was among a number of notable resolutions made on the floor of congress in Lae last week.
“Instead of calling election at the end of this year, there’s a resolution, and congress as the authority has extended it for another three years to 2025,” he said.
About 40 unanimous votes referred election powers back to office of the industrial registrar to supervise PNGTA elections, Electoral Commission to conduct the election and PNGTA to fund the exercise.
Sangkepe said his management stood to restore, reform and modernise PNGTA, as was the theme of this years’ congress.
He said the management will continue push for teachers’ welfare so it can be translated into quality education for the children.
He stressed that all provinces and districts must take ownership in taking care of their teachers.