Teachers, country’s backbone

IF there are public servants with a big heart to serve Papua New Guinea, it will be the teachers, says East Highlands Governor Julie Soso.
A member of the Parliamentary Referral Committee on Education Committee (PRCE), Soso presented a glowing reference to teachers’ generosity while addressing them at the Balob Teachers College in Lae where PRCE began the Mamose leg of a nationwide investigation into teachers’ problems, including salaries, appointments and postings, allowances, housing and other issues.
In Tok Pisin, she told the teachers last Friday that it was their big heart for the children that they had continued to teach and perform their duties despite hardship and problems they faced.
“You are truly the backbone of the country because without you teachers, there will not be any professional people in these country.”
The PRCE team comprises member for Wabag Robert Ganim (chairman), Goilala MP Daniel Mona (deputy chairman), Soso and West Sepik Governor Amkat Mai and Jimi MP Mai Dop.
Among others, the primary concern for Morobe teachers included the call to abolish the PNG Teachers’ Association (union), saying: “It’s non-existent and has done nothing or little in fighting for teachers’ welfare despite deducting thousands from their fortnightly pay in maintaining them in office.”
Their colleagues, about 15,000 of them in the Highlands, earlier called on the government to abolish the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) for the same reasons of non-performance in dealing with teachers’ welfare and benefits since independence. 
The main problems for teachers exposed so far by the PRCE investigation team include :
An increase in the base salary;
An increase in the workload as a result of free education;
Stopping tax on allowances;
Introducing mining allowances;
Abolishing TSC;
Including biological children 18 years and above for leave fares;
Payinghigh  duty allowances;
Investigating Fin Corp House corruption over ghost names;
Appointments to be on time and on merits, no nepotism;
Establishinga proper data base; and
Appointment of husband and wife teachers to be fair.
PRCE, commissioned by the Speaker of Parliament Theo Zurenuoc in January, is expected to present a detail report on issues to Parliament in the May session.