SHP schools run short of teachers

SOME schools in Southern Highlands are in shortage of teachers because many teachers have been placed in the pool and are still waiting for their postings.
According to concerned teachers and parents, teachers were still waiting to be assigned to schools even though the academic year commenced three weeks ago.
They said other schools were also facing problems, such as infighting over teaching positions.
A teacher, who requested anonymity, said Pangia Secondary School, which required 32 teachers, only 10 were of them were currently teaching.
The teacher said several other teachers who were supposed to be in school were still at home because they did not know where they would be teaching.
A parent, who also did not want to be named, claimed that senior schools like Pangia Secondary, Kagua High and Mendi High School did not begin the year well.
The parent said that in Pangia Secondary, the board had been removed without following proper procedures and two different factions comprising the existing board and the interim board were in conflict, disrupting the running of the school.
He said many students had transfered to other schools which was not a good sign for a new secondary school that would be graduating its first Grade 12s this year.
The parent added that in Kagua High School, there was confusion over the headmaster’s post after two groups in the provincial education division made separate appointments.
Meanwhile, in Mendi High School, a senior teacher who was supposed to be in another school, was reportedly “transferred” by education authorities to become the headmaster resulting in infighting over the position.
Attempts to get comments from provincial education authorities were unsuccessful but several sources confirmed the incidents.