Madang Teachers to boycott 2019 Academic year

All primary, secondary and vocational school teachers in Madang have resolved NOT to resume the 2019 academic year on Monday, January 28, if their outstanding leave fares for 2017 is not met by the Provincial Government and Administration.

The teachers reached this consensus in a meeting with executives of the PNG Teachers Association Madang Branch at the James Marape Hall at Tusbab Secondary School today.

Branch President, Remsey Ossy, told the teachers it is important they stand together on this issue so the government can act quickly on it when it sees how serious they are about the issue.

About 700 teachers in the province who were due for their biannual leave in 2017 have not been paid their leave fares.

Revelations are that they have only been paid K259.00 each.

Mr Ossy says the teachers have had it and they do not have room for any more negotiations for part payments.

They are demanding that they be paid in full before they can resume classes.

They have also agreed that they will all fill in their resumption forms next week; however, will not resume active duties until they are paid their full outstanding leave fares.

Teachers who were due for their recreational leave last year are also facing the same problem with some being paid only K500.00, while others were paid K1000.00 each.

The teachers are demanding the Provincial Administration to tell them the truth about the whereabouts of their leave fares.

NBC News understands that both the Governor, Peter Yama and Acting Provincial Administrator, John Bivi are out of the province and could not be reached for comments on this matter.

Teachers nationwide resume duties on Monday January 21, while students resume classes on Monday January 28.

Meanwhile, the teachers have also called for an audit into the use of leave fare funding for the province.

They say the Teaching Services Commission always pays money to the provinces every year for teachers leave fares, therefore the Madang Provincial Administration cannot give excuses about funding shortage for this purpose.

Remsey Ossy says the Provincial Education is aware of today’s meeting and their intention for a sit- in protest.

Education Director, Moses Sariki when contacted this afternoon for his response says, he will reserve his comments until tomorrow after he has been briefed on the discussions and deliberations of today’s meeting by the President of the Madang Branch of the PNGTA.

Sariki says he has briefly spoken with the national president of the PNGTA and he is well aware of what is happening in Madang......read more on : PNG Education News site 

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