Teachers confused over money given

By DOROTHY MARK
CONFUSION reigned among Madang teachers yesterday when they received K1.3 million as outstanding leave fares for 2019 although the year is yet to end.
Madang acting administrator Joseph Bonomane issued a public notice stating that the K1.3 million paid out on Sunday by the provincial treasury was for this year.
Bonomane said outstanding amounts for 2017 and 2018 would be investigated by the fraud squad before payment was made.
He said officers responsible for processing teachers’ leave fares at the education division would be suspended or transfared.
PNG Teachers Association Madang branch president Remsy Oss said he was told that the K1.3 was part payment of the 2017 outstanding leave fares.
“If Bonomane is saying the K1.3 million is for 2019, then that won’t be correct,” Oss said.
“The year 2019 has not ended and it won’t be proper to receive the payment early.”
Vice-president Timothy Daun said the teachers had resolved to receive the full payment of more than K7 million.
Daun said they would have a meeting this week to decide their next move.
He said grades 10 and 12 students were discussing among themselves to getting their parent and stage a protest because long strike would affect their studies.
Grade 10 students were worried because their exam is coming soon.