Vocational teachers missing out on promotions and benefits

By Glenda Awikiak
About 1300 technical and vocational education training (Tvet) teachers have missed on promotions and benefits, says Education Secretary Dr Uke Kombra.
He was speaking during the graduation of 116 vocational teachers yesterday with diploma of vocational education training (Dovet) at the PNG Education Institute after 14 weeks of training.
These were the first batch of Dovet in-service programme, which comes under a partnership between the Education Department and European Union for Tvet teacher qualification upgrading.
Kombra said as trade skills people, they were sometimes employed as casuals at vocational centres, despite being qualified in their respective trade areas.
He said when they were employed as casuals, they did not receive all the benefits and entitlements of a teacher and could not be promoted.
Kombra said PNG was competing with the rest of the world and needed skilled workers.
“We need a workforce that is relevant and appropriate for the growth of the country,” he said. “The bulk of our people are in the formal employment sector.
“The key behind the workforce are the instructors and the teachers.
“We have about 136 vocational training centres in the country, 39,000 students in these institutions and 1300 teachers or instructors.”
“You are the first group of people that will go out and make difference at the respective institutions that you will be teaching.
“Today marks an important occasion for you as a qualified teacher or instructor. All doors will be opened for you a teacher and you can influence change.
“It is a noble profession that we should all have respect for.
“That is how important the job of a teacher is.”