School inspectors not supported enough: Kuman

By MATTHEW VARI

 

Sunday, August 21, 2016 (PNG)

EDUCATION Minister, Nick Kuman has professed the lack of support School Inspector in the country receive to conduct their duties.

He made the comments when answering queries of concern by Member for Nuku, Joe Sungi, on the lack of school inspections in his district.

Sungi called on the minister to seek the department’s action on the timely inspections to be conducted by the secondary school inspectors placed in the provinces, especially for Sandaun, we haven’t had any

Minister Education Nick Kuman said that the country has only 89 school inspectors, with a further 89 to be added to ensure check and balance of all state schools operating in the system, however, also stating the lack of resources that continue to plague inspectors trying to carry out their job.

“We give an allocation of around K2500 each to operate for the entire year,” Minister Kuman said.

“That is not enough to visit every year and visit every teacher. Those are some of the difficulties that are faced.”

“And of course the lack of housing and the mobility of school inspectors to visit all the schools are some of the impediments department is faced.”

“If the school inspectors are not doing their job it is the responsibility of the school boards to report those school inspectors because the only officers of the department of education in the province are the school inspectors.”