Silag targets public servants

THE Somare Institute of Leadership and Governance (Silag) university, when in operation in 2027, will offer degree programmes only for public servants, chief executive Michael Barobe says.
“We will offer a degree programme in governance, meaning you must know the work of the government before becoming a government employee,” he said.
Barobe said people with previous certificate records from the institution will use these as credit points to attain a degree certificate.
He said for effectiveness, reforms were needed in the public service.
He stressed for selections to be merit-based.
“If someone is being promoted to a higher position, that person must have competency.
“Without that, you cannot be promoted.
“There must be systematic sustainable appointment in the public service,” Barobe said.
“In the long run, people will be encouraged to work.
“Today, there is a lot of nepotism, wantok system, so many whom-you-know, people who are not qualified are promoted which collapses the system.” Barobe said the institution’s preparations to become a specialised public service university was in accordance to the Government’s medium-term development plan, under the policy of sustainable, stable, and systematic public sector training for improved service delivery.
“A bipartisan committee is now reviewing and amending the
Public Service Management Act 1995 to give legal effect to the policy.
“We are amending acts to ensure our policy is sustainable.
“If you want to be a public servant, you must have a Silag certificate.
“In a small way, Silag is trying to reform the public service through training programmes,” he said