by Fabian Hakalits – EM TV, Port Moresby
While the 2015 academic year has resumed throughout the country, Western province’s South Fly district has a different story.
On Tuesday, teachers conducted a strike relating to outstanding leave fares and entitlements.
The teachers claim that the delay of payments is ongoing and must stop because they can walk out of the classroom any time. They called on their provincial government to ensure all leave fares entitlements are paid on time.
The Western province PNG Teachers Association President, Rose Kehani, told EM TV that the Fly River provincial government has failed to address their demands.
The ongoing delays in leave fares and entitlements denied the teachers’ rights to spend the festive season with their families in their respective provinces.
On Tuesday, the teachers staged a protest march to the provincial education office and demanded an explanation from authorities.
One of the demands is that all leave fares and entitlements are to be deposited right into their personal bank accounts.
EM TV conducted an interview with Principal Education Advisor Netsey Baerey, who claimed that the treasury office in Kiunga failed the process of facilitating payments. He however assured that the payments should be ready by the end of this month.
Following the meeting yesterday, Mrs Kehani said the teachers were satisfied with the assurance given by the provincial education authorities and will resume normal duties.
However, their demands still stand.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=CM1fZ2NUoD8%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
