Teachers could be withdrawn from PNG schools amid rising attacks, TSC warns

Communities found attacking teachers may soon find themselves without any at all, the Teaching Service Commission has warned, after a violent attack left the headmaster of Morobe Technical High School injured. Acting Chairman Maini Mike Ugaia said the Commission was prepared to pull staff from schools where such incidents persist, calling the trend an alarming threat to the country's education system.

Speaking on the Morobe incident, Mr Ugaia said it reflected a disturbing rise in violence against school administrators and staff, and confirmed that police had been engaged to bring those involved to justice.
He has ordered the TSC's provincial advisor for Morobe to visit the school in person and compile a detailed report outlining the extent of the damage and its impact on school operations. According to Mr Ugaia, disagreements or administrative issues inside schools should never be settled through violent means, and structures already exist within the system to handle such disputes properly.
The Commission's acting head did not mince words when addressing what would happen should attacks continue.
"If communities continue to attack teachers, the TSC will remove them from that school and reassign them to different schools. There will be no educational services for communities that fail to respect and protect our teachers," Mr Ugaia said.
He urged local leaders, ward members and peace officers to play a more active role in easing tensions before they boil over into violence, reminding the public of the value teachers bring to national development.
"This is a serious criminal matter, and the police will deal with the perpetrators accordingly," he said, adding that teachers' safety remained non-negotiable.
"Teachers provide a vital service to the development of our children and our country, and their safety cannot be compromised."

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