By Annette Kora – EMTV News, Port Moresby
An issue that the Papua New Guinea Teachers Association (PNGTA) is very much involved in is the appointment of teachers and ensuring that appointments are not compromised for political expediency.
PNGTA General Secretary, Ugwalubu Mowana, stated this recently with regards to an appointment made by the Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology for the principle of Port Moresby Business College.
The PNGTA says over the last two weeks they have been concerned with the manner in which the principal of Port Moresby Business College was appointed by the Minister for Higher Education, Pila Niningi. The association says it does not conform to the process and procedures of teacher appointment in the country under the current teaching service merits.
Under the process guided by the TSC Act 1988, the appointment of lecturers of national institutions such as Port Moresby Business College is the responsibility of the National Education Board.
PNGTA is maintaining that Mr Niningi as minister for Higher Education has absolutely no authority to appoint the principal of Port Moresby Business College, let alone the authority to exercise the powers of the National Education Board which even the minister for education does not exercise.
After seeking legal advice, PNGTA National General Secretary, states the association had made the decision to refer him to the Ombudsman Commission for further deliberation. This comes after several calls through media and other channels to ask the Minister to revoke his appointment.
Mowana says the association as the mouthpiece of the teachers will not sit back and watch the appointment process be abused.
