Teachers in Madang confirm boycott

By DOROTHY MARK
THE Madang teachers say they will go ahead with their planned boycott of classes from today after the provincial government failed to pay their outstanding leave fares by deadline.
The provincial government was given the past eight weeks to prepare and pay outstanding leave fares for 2017 and 2018.
When term one began this year, the teachers boycotted classes for three weeks to show their frustrations.
Madang branch president for PNG Teachers’ Association Remsy Oss said more than K7 million was owed to the teachers for their leave fares.
“We will force students to return home (today) when they go to school,” Oss said yesterday.
He said 700 teachers in Madang were due for their leave in 2017 and 2018.
In December 2017, all teachers due for leave received K259 across the board.
Governor Peter Yama said the teachers’ leave fares issue was now under investigation because reports of double dipping and other fishy business on how the money meant for leave fares was managed before he took office.
Acting provincial administrator Joseph Bonomane said the teacher’ leave fares were in the process of being paid out but certain information like teachers’ file numbers had to be verified first.
Oss said teachers would not teach until their leave fares were paid.
Early in January, former teacher Charles Locke called for an investigation into Madang teacher leave fares.
“This is a chronic problem faced every year by teachers in Madang. Its a result of poor financial management and incompetency. It must be investigated,” he said.