WHP teachers ready to join fight

By ELIAS LARI
MORE than 40 teachers in Western Highlands are yet to receive their leave fares, the PNG Teachers Association (PNGTA) says.
Western Highlands branch president John Yaga said if the teachers were not paid their entitlements, his office was prepared to join the national body (PNGTA) to take legal action.
Yaga claimed that a total of K1.4 million had been budgeted for teachers’ annual leave fares.
He said of that the funding, two payments were done last Dec 23, and Jan 7, but many teachers did not receive what they expected while others missed out completely.
Yaga said leaves fares were entitlements and not privileges so the committee responsible for approving and disbursing payments needed to ensure all teachers received their annual leave fares in full.
He said the teachers’ union wanted to know how the funding had been used as many teachers had not been paid.
Yaga said some teachers were back in their villages or provinces, waiting for the leavers fares in order to return to Mt Hagen.
“This union office is concerned about the welfare of teachers serving in this province because leave fares is an ongoing issue,” he said.
“Teachers should not be looked down on, they are agents of the Government to take this nation forward and Western Highlands needs to realise their importance.”
Yaga said parties involved in the disbursement of leave fares were the committee members, provincial treasury and the Bank of South Pacific.
He warned that such mistreatment of teachers would see many leave the province.
“Some teachers are back in their own provinces using their own expenses and are requesting release letter so they can serve in their own provinces,” he said.
Yaga said over the last 10 years (2012-21), many committed teachers had left the province because of issues with welfare and postings.
“I’m making this call to the committee to release funding so that those missing out can benefit in full,” he said.
“The PNGTA Western Highlands branch is prepared to take legal action if nothing is done for the affected officers.”
The National has not been able to reach provincial education adviser Martin Marr for comment since last week over the leave fares and postings issues affecting teachers in the province.