The Morobe PNG Teachers Association say the 2017 leave fares for teachers in the province were distributed unfairly.
Branch president and Omili Primary School deputy head teacher Mark Nanu thanked the provincial administration and the education division for the K8 million allocations for teachers travel, but said teachers from some regions were not compensated properly. “For the first time, Morobe did extremely well in allocating K7 million in 2016 and last year K8 million for teachers leave fares. However, I want the leave fares committee to improve on distribution to teachers travelling by road to their respective villages,” Mr Nanu said. He claims teachers from the Highlands and Mamose regions were treated unfairly. “It was a very frustrating and sad Christmas for them as the leave money was insufficient to get them to reach their destinations,” he said. Mr Nanu said leave fares is an entitlement received by teachers after every two years and this is clearly stated in the Teaching Service Commission Act. “Last year’s leave fares planning was good but the break-up was not properly done, resulting in some teachers spending the festive season at their schools,” he said. He said all teachers perform the same roles, get the same package and need to be compensated equally. Some teachers from Milfordhaven Primary School in Lae from Highlands region described their leave fare cheques as “bus fares” and not leave fare entitlements. Speaking on behalf of the teachers, school head teacher Yelo Amu said many teachers from the Highlands when collecting their cheques were surprised to see the kind of amount given for their travel. Mr Amu said he has six dependents and the leave entitlement received was only K1400 to travel from Lae to Laiagam village in Enga Province. “This is below what I used to receive in my past leave entitlements which is K4,500,” he said. Mr Amu said the entitlement for teachers from Highlands was a slap in the face because after all the hard work they had put into serving the Morobe education division, it has been wasted.“Can the education division, provincial education board and leave fares committee explain to us what criteria was used to pay Highlands region teachers leave fares,” he said. Teachers, Lovelyn Iram and Peam Enekali received K280 each to travel with their families to Enga. Ms Iram said it was unbelievable, further saying that the unfair distribution must be addressed immediately, because how could she travel home with her five children and husband using that amount. Morobe education adviser Keith Jiram aplogised to teachers who received insufficient funds, saying the provincial education office has not received any appeals but only complaints regarding the matter. He further said their complaints would be considered for improvement this year. Post courier
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