Teachers call for better security

 By ELIAS LARI

MEMBERS of the Papua New Guinea Teachers Association (PNGTA) working in the remote highlands districts want better security to safeguard their lives.

The teachers held a meeting in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands, last week after a teacher from Hela was attacked by criminals along the Ambua Gap in Tari. Police said the thugs thought that the teacher was carrying cash being the school’s allocation of the tuition-free fees.  

The meeting was chaired by John Mondo, a member of the PNGTA national management committee representing the highlands region.

Mondo said teachers’ lives and safety must be respected.

“Teachers are risking their lives and their families’ when they are posted to areas which are not safe,” he said.

“And people should respect such people who are sacrificing their lives to educate and develop a person to become a valuable resource in future.”

Mondo said it was not the first time teachers had been attacked.

He said tribal fights and payback killings were normal occurrences in the highlands and there were no laws to protect teachers.

Mondo said some teachers risked their lives when they agreed to work in remote areas well known for rapes, tribal fights and criminal activities.

Mondo said the PNGTA wanted to see teachers’ lives protected at all times.

“We have our own land, family, homes but we are sent there to help and educate the nation,” Mondo said.