Teachers in Madang asked to fill resumption forms

By Glenda Awikiak
TEACHERS in Madang have been advised to fill in forms for their resumption of duty because they can consider taking industrial action on their leave fare issue.
Madang education adviser Moses Sariki said teachers must come to work on Monday and fill in the necessary form so that their pay is not affected.
He said the 2015 and 2016 outstanding teachers leave fares had been sorted “but they are yet to sort out the 2017 and 2018 leave fares”.
“I did receive calls from the Education Secretary Dr Uke Kombra and was advised to prepare documents to be submitted to the Teaching Service Commission, which will deliberate with the Finance Department,” he said.
Sariki was responding to reports that teachers in Northern and Madang had resolved to boycott classes when the academic year resumes next week in protest over the non-payment of their leaves fares. Madang teachers claim they are owed more than K4 million.
PNG Teachers Association Madang branch president Remsy Oss said 700 teachers were promised by the provincial government and administration that they would be paid what they were owed when Government accounts opened last January.