Prepare to serve in rural areas, commission tells graduands

Youth & Careers

THE PNG Teaching Service Commission is calling on teachers who have just graduated to serve be prepared to serve in remote areas.
Commissioner operations Mathew Pobaya said people there needed government services.
“The majority of the people who really need government presence through education services are behind the mountains, in thick jungles, across huge fast-flowing rivers,” he said.
“They really need teachers like you – not in cities and towns.”
He urged them to develop values including honesty, integrity, accountability, respect, wisdom, and responsibility in themselves to become good public servants.
He said there was allowance paid to teachers posted to disadvantaged schools.
“If they haven’t received the allowance, they must let the commissioner know.
“The allowance is K4,000 across the board for (teachers in) disadvantaged schools.”
Pobaya said the commission could deregister new teachers who refused to be posted to rural areas.
“If they decline a posting, they are not committed and we will not accept them as teachers,” he said.
He said he started teaching in remote schools that eventually got him promoted to commissioner.
“I served in very remote places of Morobe like Dinangat in Kabwum and schools in Menyamya bordering Gulf.
“People in remote communities need government services.
“You should be the service.”