Sir Peter has no power to suspend principal

ON July 14, Enga Teachers College principal was suspended from duties by Enga Governor Sir Peter Ipatas.
The rationale behind the suspension, among other things, include being rude and disrespectful to the Prime Minister James Marape and other important guests that attended the Joint Supervisory Body (JSB) meeting.
In the suspension letter that was issued to him, the principal was directed not to be within the premises of the college.
In the Teaching Service Commission, anybody including the governor of a province has the right to report allegations against a member of the teaching service.
However, nobody including a governor has the authority to suspend a principal or a member of the teaching service.
All principals of teachers colleges, including the Enga Teachers College principal, are employed by the Teaching Service Commission until such a time they legally join the public service in accordance with the Higher Education General Provisions Act (2020).
Since they are members of the teaching service, only the Teaching Service Commission and authorised persons have the authority to charge or suspend these principals.
However, if principals or other members of the teaching service are alleged to have committed serious disciplinary offences under the Teaching Service Act, they should be reported to the commission or the authorised persons.
It is understood that a new principal has been appointed to the principal’s post by the governor.
Again, this would be unlawful since the governor does not have the legal authority to appoint a principal whether on a permanent or interim basis.
It is important that the governor be advised to correct these administrative errors and that proper disciplinary processes and procedures are followed if there are serious disciplinary offences against the principal.
In the meantime, the suspended principal should be restored immediately and if there are allegations against him, those allegations should be referred to the relevant authorities for possible investigations to be conducted.

Joel Nava LLM,
Acting Commissioner – Policy,
Teaching Service Commission