The Minister for Education, Jimmy Uguro, says classes will resume as scheduled on Monday despite the PNG Teachers’ Association’s nationwide strike for welfare demands.
Association president Aita Senengkepe issued a 24-hour ultimatum on Wednesday, demanding that the Education Department and Teaching Service Commission ensured teachers received the Covid-19 vaccination, risk allowances and that funding was given to schools to buy face masks and sanitary equipment.
But Uguro brushed aside the demands, saying that schools and teachers should be responsible for their own safety against the Covid-19.
The Covid-19 is a worldwide pandemic and is not an institutional issue (therefore) we should not use it as an excuse to penalize our children and schools.
Minister Uguro to The National
Senengkepe called on teachers to go on strike if the Government did not meet their demands.
We cannot put our teachers at risk as most classes have more than 45 students.
PNGTA president Aita Senengkepe
But Uguro said:
This pandemic must be seen as a shared responsibility as it requires us to be responsible for our own safety.
Senengkepe’s deputy Sinel Kou said the Government was more concerned about the health workers and the disciplined forces members and had forgotten about teachers.
Meanwhile, National Pandemic Response Controller David Manning confirmed that classes would resume on Monday and advised schools to strictly adhere to safety measures provided under the niupela pasin (new normal).