TSC: Provinces given K29mil for leave fares

By Glenda Awikiak
THE Government had paid out to provinces more than K29 million for teachers’ leave fares in September but some teachers are yet to receive the full amounts.
Teaching Service Commission (TSC) chairman Baran Sori told a workshop attended by education advisers reviewing teachers’ financial issues such as salaries, leave fares, allowances and deductions, that the money was approved and released by the National Executive Council (NEC) and should be with the provincial treasuries.
“The responsibility now is with the respective provincial education advisers to negotiate with the treasury and get the payments done,” Sori said.
Education advisers had raised their concern that the year was ending with the government accounts closing next year and teachers would be doing their travel arrangements.
The teachers leave fare issue had recurred almost every end of year.
The Teaching Service Commission, Treasury, Department of Personnel Management and education advisers had been meeting to resolve the matter.
Regional education adviser for the Highlands region Erwin Us said there was a lack of communication between them and the provincial administration causing the delay.
But talks were on-going and teachers should be expecting their leave fares in their accounts from next Monday.
“For Jiwaka we have been allocated about K400, 000 for our teachers’ leave fares,” Us said.