This was announced last Friday through a joint statement by Education Secretary Joseph Pagelio and Teaching Service Commission Chairman Michael Pearson.
Teachers affected were those whose resumption of duty forms had not reached Waigani following last month’s request by TSC for all forms to be sent in by Feb. 27.
Both TSC and the department urged provincial education advisers to make sure their teachers sent in their resumption forms immediately for them to be put back on the payroll.
TSC said although majority of the forms reached Waigani on time, it was not satisfactory because of the lack of commitment by provinces in ensuring that their teachers were ready for the school year.
“We are, however, pleased to say that 95 percent of the teachers throughout the country resumed duties last Jan. 26,” it said.
Provinces that sent in all their teachers’ duty resumption summary sheets include NCD, Gulf, Central, Eastern Highlands, Simbu, Western Highlands, West New Britain, New Ireland, Kiunga-Lake Murray, Manus and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
Provinces yet to submit all forms are Oro, Milne Bay, Southern Highlands, Sandaun, East Sepik, Madang, Morobe and Enga.
Pagelio and Pearson said most teachers who intended to teach this year took up their postings and approximately 2,000 teachers who come from remote areas, were put back on payroll.
About 6,600 teachers are not expected to take up positions.
This include, 1,075 teachers who officially resigned or retired last year or the start of this year; more than 200 teachers who are on approved leave this year, 56 teachers who passed away last year and early this year and 38 terminated teachers
About 5,000 teachers over the years, left teaching but were still listed as teachers.
Also included were teachers on leave to other government agencies, the churches and those not working or were working with other employers and had not officially left the teaching service. TSC also called on them to contact the commission to finalize their separation.
Proper separation allowed teachers to receive entitlement that they were due and to be able to either access their superannuation or have it transferred to their new employer’s superannuation fund as required under the Superannuation Act.
