A concerned parent from Laugwata Community High School in West Kwaio, Malaita Province, has called on the government to strictly enforce teacher accountability following the recent settlement of teachers’ salary and entitlement demands.
Mr Robert Buai said that now the government has fulfilled its obligations by addressing long-standing issues related to teachers’ salaries and entitlements, teachers must reciprocate by performing their duties according to the expectations of parents and the government.
He said teachers should not be lazy, especially when the government has already implemented the new salary scale and addressed other outstanding demands.
“While the government has shown commitment to meeting teachers’ demands, teachers must also improve their performance and act responsibly in serving students and communities,” Mr Buai said.
He told Solomon Star it was disappointing to see that some teachers in Malaita were still not taking their responsibilities seriously, despite benefiting from the new salary structure introduced last year.
According to reports, a total of 9,022 teachers nationwide have now been re-levelled under the new Teachers’ Pay Structure and Classification system.
The revised structure aims to provide a fairer and more consistent salary scale based on teachers’ positions and responsibilities.
The successful rollout of the new pay structure marks a significant step in the implementation of the Education Act 2023 and aligns with the Government of National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) education policy.
Mr Buai acknowledged the government’s efforts to address teachers’ needs across the country but stressed that teachers must, in return, serve diligently and meet the expectations of parents and authorities.
He also called on the government to strengthen monitoring and supervision of teachers nationwide to ensure improved performance in schools.
By SOLOMON LOFANA
Solomon Star, Auki
Photo caption: Teachers during the world teachers day celebration in Honiara.
