Implementation of 13 recommendations put forward in the Education Report (2014) are yet to be effected.
The findings of the Parliamentary Referral Committee on Education were presented in a Report to Parliament on August 26, 2014 by Wabag MP Robert Ganim and approved by Parliament.
It said every year teachers raised concerns over non-payment and underpayment of salaries, allowances and experienced lengthy delays in the payment of entitlements.
The recommendations are:
1. That immediate reviews be conducted into the DoE and the TSC.
2. That the National Government conduct comprehensive reviews to amend relevant sections of the Teaching Service Act 1988 that defines the allowance and entitlements of teachers.
3. That the TSC in consultation with the DoE conduct a review into the appointment process of teachers.
4. That TSC and the DoE consider increasing the teachers’ appointment tenure from three years to four years.
5. That the National Government consider identifying a more suitable and working pay roll system for teachers.
6. That the DoE empower provincial education authorities through the decentralization process to take full ownership of the ALEXCO Payroll System or any appropriate payroll system.
7. That the National Government direct the DoE to conduct and audit into teachers’ leave fares with the view to pay the leave fares in cash directly into teachers bank accounts.
8. That the National Government direct the DoE and the TSC and provincial administrations to conduct an annual update for teachers in the first quarter of each year.
9. That the National Government consider the plight of the TSC and empower it with annual budgetary appropriation and financial responsibilities to operate as an autonomous entity of the State as per the Teaching Service Act.
10. That the DoE and the TSC conduct a review into the processes and procedures of retirement, retrenchment and resignation of teachers.
11. That the National Government through the DoE develop a modern standardized system of keeping records and data base for teachers in the teaching service.
12. That the National Government consider and revisit the functions of the TSC with the view to increase its manpower capacity and to manage teacher payroll system independently.
Recommendation 13 compelled the Education Ministry to provide a response to the 12 recommendations.
So far, there has been nil implementation on the recommendations because the Government is yet to allocate funds despite approving K7.8 million for implementation this year.
Teaching Service Commission (TSC) chairman Baran Sori said the timing of the report released for the response to be prepared appeared after the 2015 budget was handed down.
Sori claims it’s just unfortunate that the economy is not picking up well due to the downward trend in commodity prices affecting our internal revenue.
He said they will begin implementation once funds become available.