by Tokana Hasavi – EM TV, Port Moresby
Staff from the finance department will undergo competency based training, as part of the department’s strategy to improve performance and service delivery mechanism.
Acting Finance Secretary, Dr Ken Ngangan announced on Friday, that an agreement was signed with the University of Papua New Guinea, for staff to undergo training and upgrade their knowledge and skills.
Staff will study the Bachelor in Public Sector Accounting program as part of the department’s mandatory requirement
An MOU signed in November 2014 between the two parties, initially paving the way for 25 finance department workers. The 25 workers will be joined by another 30 this year to undergo two years of a Bachelor in Public Accounting.
The UPNG Administration says the program is internationally accredited and the first of its kind in the country and the region.
Upon releasing a cheque of over three hundred thousand kina to the University, Dr Ngangan conceded that UPNG alone cannot cater to the 50 per cent that need to upgrade their qualifications. He says other higher learning institutions will be sought after as well.
The concept also extends to other government departments and agencies, which have active public finance managers.
Provincial, district and local level governments now have access to millions of kina and the government’s expectation for public finance officers to manage, account and report on public funds, as described by Dr Ngangan is enormous.
Competency based training is part of the requirement under the new Public Service Management Act 2014, to improve performance.
This is to transform public servants to act in critical areas of leadership, performance management system and individual productivity.
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