Pay rises to keep PNG teachers in class

Firmin Nanol, Port Moresby

Last Updated: Mon, 13 Jun 2011 08:00:00 +1000

Teachers in Papua New Guinea have won a 16 per cent increase in salaries and allowances over the next three years.

The rise is expected to cost the government $A124 million.

Before the increases, poor pay and conditions had forced many teachers to leave their jobs and take up employment with PNG's multi-billion dollar llquefied natural gas project.

PNG's Education Minister James Marape assured teachers their working conditions will be improved as long as they remain committed to their work.

Mr Marape said the government will continue to value their contributions toward the human resource development of PNG.

He said teachers are the building block of a nation.

The deal with the teacher union includes all categories of teachers from elementary to technical and teachers colleges.

The minister said teachers' salaries and allowances increment is by far the largest in the whole of the PNG public service.

Teachers in rural and remote areas will receive disadvantage allowances of more than $A1,200 dollars at the end of every year. 

Mr Marape has warned teachers who have left for jobs with the PNG LNG project to think twice.

He said they will not be welcomed back by the PNG Teaching Service Commission.