The Prime Minister (PM), Charlot Salwai, announced that the Council of Ministers (COM) in its urgent meeting on Monday 16th September 2024 has approved for the government to settle the teachers’ claims totalling VT4,252, 821,101.
He wants the Vanuatu Teachers Union (VTU) and its members to understand that while the government cannot address all claims this year due to the budget being already passed, it will still address them in future budgets.
He urged them to resume duties immediately.
In its second decision, COM tasked the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MoFEM) and the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) to revise the payment plan for the claims and present it to the next COM.
The teachers’ claims include unpaid severance, housing, child and remote allowances, death in service entitlement, reimbursement of course fees, payment for those performing duties as principals, deputy principals and those performing above their designated grades.
PM Salwai announced that the COM agreed for the Education Minister to set up a working committee consisting of the Vanuatu Teachers Union (VTU), Teaching Service Commission (TSC), Department of Finance and MoET within six months to review each case individually and have them verified by the Office of the Attorney General before finalisation.
He said the COM also agreed for the Teaching Service Commission Act and the Teaching Service Act be reviewed and presented to the next Parliament session, and to pursue immediate reform of the education system.
The Head of the Government stressed that despite significant annual spending on education and support from development partners, reports indicate that literacy levels remain low compared to other countries.
“Despite government’s efforts to provide access to education, many children are still not attending schools. The reform is important to identify the causes, such as whether it’s due to distance, not enough schools or lack of teachers,” he said.
“There is another report indicating that students are still struggling with reading and writing at the secondary level after spending many years at the primary level. The reform will find out the reasons, whether it’s related to the curriculum or the quality of teachers. It is a serious concern when parent spend a lot in their children’s education.
“Also, the results of last year’s exams were not so good, possibly due to the COVID-19 crisis or teachers not turn attending classes, but these some of the concerns affecting education. The reform will identify our failures and how to address them.”
PM Salwai said education will remain a government priority, as it develops the country’s human resources.
Source: Daily Post Vanuatu