Hon. Lanelle Urges School Authorities to Address the Problem of Teachers Posting

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

THE Caretaker Minister of Education and Human Resources Development, Hon. Lanelle Tanangada, has urged educational authorities to take appropriate action against teachers who are not returning to their assigned school postings.

Hon. Lanelle expressed to SUNDAY ISLES her concern over the alleged growing number of teachers who have been absent or refuse to return to their designated schools without any valid reason or communication despite their final postings for the 2024 academic year.

“This matter should be dealt with by their relevant school education authorities, because they are the providers, based on the current Education Act.

“It is the paramount responsibility of each school education provider to address the problematic issue,” she said during the World Education Day 2024 held at Honiara Senior High School on Friday last week.

Hon. Lanelle said the Ministry of Education does not directly handle the posting or placement of teachers.

“This responsibility often falls under the jurisdiction of local education authorities. The Ministry of Education’s primary role is to provide overall policy direction, set standards, administer funding, and oversee the education system as a whole. However, the Ministry of Education only establishes guidelines, policies and regulations concerning teacher recruitment and selection processes to ensure adherence to certain standards and qualifications,” she said.

Likewise, the Minister of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) Deputy Secretary, Strategic Services, Mr. James Bosamatha, further pointed out that in terms of the posting of teachers based on the new Education Act, the education providers are the ones responsible for posting teachers.

He said that the Ministry of Education has no direct role in terms of posting teachers.

“It is the education providers that are responsible for the posting of teachers. Therefore, teachers are reminded that when their education provider posts them to a certain school, it means that it is the authority that posts you to that school,’’ Mr. Bosamata told SUNDAY ISLES.

He said that teachers should therefore respect the action or decision made by their respective education providers.

“I think that is the message I like to say to teachers. Respect the decision that the education providers undertake.

“Should a teacher have any genuine reason that does not allow him or her to return to that school? It is important that you do that as teachers so that there is communication and dialogue between you, the teacher, and your education provider,’’ he said.

Mr. Bosamata said that there are provisions in the relevant policy where the education provider can discipline teachers in this matter of concern.

“But as I said before, if any disciplinary action is taken, it is good for the teacher to consult with their education provider to avoid any disciplinary action,’’ he said.