PNG Opposition Blasts Government Over Ongoing Teacher Entitlement Crisis

Papua New Guinea Opposition Leader James Nomane has accused the Government of repeatedly failing the country’s teachers, saying more than 63,000 educators serving nearly 13,000 schools have been left to struggle without basic entitlements owed to them by the State.

Nomane said teachers could be found in every corner of PNG — from mountain ranges and remote islands to towns and cities — yet their sacrifices continued to be met with neglect through unpaid leave fares, delayed salaries, and outstanding retirement and repatriation benefits.

He said the problem had persisted for years and could no longer be brushed off as an administrative error, describing it as a deeply rooted failure within the system that had been allowed to continue unchecked.

According to Nomane, many teachers are forced to remain stranded during school holidays, unable to return home or relocate, while others fall into debt simply trying to survive until the next school term begins.

He said it was unacceptable for the Government to demand performance and discipline from teachers while failing to meet its own legal obligations to them.

Nomane called on Prime Minister James Marape and Cabinet to act immediately, proposing emergency funding within 14 days to clear outstanding entitlements, the creation of a national command centre to process arrears, and strict accountability measures for provincial education authorities.

He also urged the modernisation of payroll systems and the protection of teacher entitlements through a dedicated budget line to prevent future delays.

“Teachers are not the problem. They are the foundation of PNG’s development, and if the Government cannot honour its basic obligations to them, it cannot claim to be serious about education or the future of our children,” Nomane said.