By MATTHEW VARI
Sunday, February 8, 2015 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)
DESPITE calls from various authorities within the education sector not to pursue probes into the teacher leave fares issue- the Special Parliamentary Committee on Public Sector Reform and Service Delivery has gone ahead with it probe yesterday with hearing conducted at Parliament on Friday.
Chairman of the committee and Member for Goroka, Bire Kimisopa, told those called in yesterday that the committee’s perusal of the issue was one of public policy expectation.
Those summoned to the hearing included the Education Department hierarchy, provincial administrators, Internal Revenue Commission, and the Department of Personnel Management.
“The committee’s focus is on public service delivery, and we decided to conduct hearing into the teaching leave fares issue,” Mr Kimisopa said.
“Ours is of public policy expectation, we are of the view that teachers should be given their entitlements on time, for the sake of the important stakeholders in this sector which is our children rights across the country.”
“The objective is to find a solution, by understanding the mechanics behind how you do the leave fares and why there are loopholes in the system and problems that persist year in year out and hopefully I can table the report in parliament.”
Kimisopa then referred to attempts to prevent the hearing to be held- namely referring to a letter sent the night before the hearing by the Minister for Education Nick Kuman for the hearing to be called off, along with previous calls by the Chairman of the Parliamentary Referring Committee on Education Robert Ganim.
“Minister Kuman sent me a letter which I received last night which I saw as being a little late, and also a little innocuous, using a letter like that just before we are trying to commence a parliamentary inquiry,” Kimisopa pointed out.
“It would be held as contempt of parliament for us to disband our hearing- we do not report to the prime minister, nor do we report to the minister for education- we report to parliament, and that is where I stand from.”
“I have made it clear in no uncertain way to try and aggravate of disturb the mandate of the minister; unfortunately, it was given in very late for us to call off the inquiry- it is not going to work.”
In response Education Department Secretary Micheal Tapo, explained the reasons as to why his minister had written in, stating specifically the findings of the Ganim Report were to be presented in parliament in the first sitting for 2015 (Tuesday February 15).
“There is no doubt in our minds about the job that you are doing, and you should go ahead, but given that there is a Teachers Salaries and Entitlements report by Robert Ganim and there were a number of recommendations and teachers leave fares are also discussed in the report,” Secretary Tapo said.
“And given that there was a letter given by the Minister, I should say that it has got to do with that, but nevertheless I do not think that should stop you as a committee to try not to do this.”
“From the Chairman of the Teaching Service Commission and me, we are really glad to front up here and talk to you and explain the causes and where we believe things are and where they can be tidied up.”
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