Teachers are free to exercise their democratic rights to educate citizens about elections for the country’s development, Teaching Service Commission (TSC) chairman Samson Wangihomie says.
Wangihomie said teachers could educate students about the democratic process of elections, how it was conducted and the government’s formation.
He said while teachers could teach students about the electoral process and history, they could not tell them who to vote for.
Wangihomie said teachers were allowed to engage in the general election as election officials and scrutineers but they would return to classes on the dates given by the Education Department.
Manus Secondary School principal Alois Kinol stressed that only a few teachers would be involved in the election period and the department had put out a circular on the involvement of teachers.
We are aware of the circular of the teachers to be involved in elections and school grounds not to be used for campaign activities.
Alois Kinol
The National also spoke to heads of several other schools on whether their grounds would be used for polling activities and would also it if the provincial education boards made a formal request.
Ramu Valley High School board chairman Lucas Kuniata said they would allow their grounds to be used as a polling site if their provincial education board made a request.
Right now, we are just waiting, if they request for a school ground we will meet and discuss first before making any decision but no political campaigns will be held in the school.
Lucas Kuniata
Meanwhile, Education secretary Dr Uke Kombra said no political rallies, speeches, gatherings, sponsored activities and sports would be conducted in any of the national education system schools whether elementary, primary, secondary centre or vocational centre.