Education

“The Alesco HRIS went down on February 6 and since then our Payroll Division has been working around the clock and in close consultation with the Department of Finance Payroll Support Division in an effort to rectify the problem in time to process the salaries but that has not been possible,” said Kombra.

 Kombra added that instead of letting public servants and teachers go without pay, the Payroll Division has processed the salaries manually and submitted the payroll files to the Department of Finance to send to the commercial banks.

A total of K49.6 million was paid into school's accounts last Wednesday (Jan 27) after the department held back funds allocated for term 4 last year.

The funds were held back to avoid misuse of funds as schools were already going towards the end of the 2015 academic year.

Dr Kombra says the funds released last week and any savings schools may have from previous years should be used to commence the 2016 academic year which begins this week.

He said the Department is now preparing to release about K75 million for term one for the 2016 TFF funds.

Education Secretary Dr Uke Kombra said in a statement yesterday a circular dated Feb 1, 2016 will be sent to all schools this week.

Dr Kombra had announce on January 21 the imposition of project fees this year.

However he said the reintroduction of project fees in 2016 has already been misapplied by some schools.

"Until an NEC decision is made, no school is to charge and collect any project fee."

"If any school has collected project fees, those funds are to be held until NEC reaches a decision," Dr Kombra said.

Education Minister Nick Kuman in a press conference today said additional fees in the form of project fees may be imposed by schools for special purposes as approved by the National Education Board and provincial education board.

However, he emphasised students must not be denied an education from their respective schools for the non-payment of this project fees.

A maximum project fee of K50 can be imposed on students in Elementary schools, K100 is the maximum fee for primary schools, K200 for High schools and Vocational Schools and  K250 for Secondary schools.

The signing of the memorandum of understanding took place in Port Moresby on Monday Dec 21.

The program will be taught in collaboration with the National Fisheries College (NFC) which  will foster the provision of training opportunities and offer assistance to facilitate and develop a high quality fisheries training program.

Acting Secretary for Education Dr Uke Kombra said the program would  create more skilled Papua New Guineans who should make a living for themselves and at the same time also contribute to the economic development of the country.

And this time it has done this for some schools in far-flung Menyamya district.

Tsewi and Hakwange primary schools were the recipients of school uniforms from Governor Kasiga Kelly Naru.

He was accompanied by the manager of BNDL Tailoring, the supplier of school uniforms, Terry Agai.

School children and their teachers, the beneficiaries of the project, openly wept in front of the Governor.

He says he shares the concerns of his department, the parents, higher learning institutions, and the general public.

He said in a statement: “The perpetrators of such an insidious act are threatening the intellectual abilities and potentials of students who compete industriously in classes and schools to develop their mind comprehensively.

“Also, the cheaters are not doing justice to themselves, their competitors, their parents and the higher learning institutions that have limited intake placing.

He says there was no school notice given to the school administration about the protest.

However, the peaceful protest by students who assembled outside the Vulupindi Haus got a favorable outcome which pave the way for a meeting today between the school management and the department.

Kaupa told Loop PNG after the meeting, that both parties have come to an agreement and students will return to classes and prepare for their national examination.        

“A guarantee letter will be given by the department that the money will be forth coming.”

During a budget review the College's acting president, Dr Rosevonne Pato, says a remedial programme had shown some success.

She says about 60 percent of the students who eventually graduate from the College have had some remedial assistance under what is called the CAP programme.

But Representative, Meauta Mageo, who is a former high school teacher, says the system is still failing the territory's children.

Twenty two positions are currently being advertised including five jobs for principals and eight jobs at the main secondary school Tereora College.

There are also seven other vacancies at primary and secondary schools in the country.

A Director of Human Resources with the government Terry Utaga says an example of the problem is the field of accounting where potential applicants for an accounting teacher job prefer to stick to higher paying jobs outside teaching.