Students out of class as teachers wait for fares

STUDENTS in East Sepik have missed a week of school last week and could likely miss this week as well as the teachers wait to collect their leave fares.
This was according to Governor Allan Bird when apologising unreservedly to the students, parents and our teachers for the unnecessary delay.
On his social media page, Bird said: “But I hope everyone will remain patient as we resolve these issues and most importantly, ensure they are not repeated in the future.
“Sometimes a little pain is necessary to drive home the message about our very severe shortcomings, most of which are self-inflicted.
“So far around 200 of the 400 cheques have been printed. The ESPG (East Sepik government) needs to print around 1000 cheques urgently.
“Not just for teachers, but all service providers.
“Even my office has not been able to pay any bills this year because we can’t print cheques through our system.
“The issues are being rectified and we hope they will be fixed once and for all.
“The teachers also have raised a number of other issues that have been outstanding for several decades.
“I expect the administration will respond to these appropriately.
“I thank everyone for their patience and understanding as we try our best to resolve the teachers’ very legitimate issues.”
Four days ago, teachers in the province joined colleagues in Madang on a sit-in-strike to show frustration over their unpaid 2018 leave fares by the provincial administration.
PNG Teachers Association Mamose regional secretary Michael Aimos, said the teachers held a meeting last Thursday and gave an ultimatum to the provincial administration to pay their outstanding leave fares.