Teachers in the National Education System are being urged by the Minister for Education to refrain from going on strike over their outstanding 3% CPI payment. Minister Lukas Dekena said, “In our quest to make teaching a prestigious profession, our teachers must understand our position and must remain professional and not to follow the recent blackmail tactic by others.” The Minister also supported the call by the PNG Teachers Association President to give the government until end of this month (April) and if nothing happens, they (PNGTA) will go back to the Industrial Registrar and at the same time engage their lawyer to file enforcement Court Order to get the 3% and other claims paid by the government. “The Treasury Department has already made available funds to pay our teachers as per the MOA that was signed between the PNGTA, TSC and the Department of Personnel Management in December 2023,” Mr. Dekena said. He said that the government is committed to the MOA and the Department of Education and the Teaching Service Commission are continuously liaising with Finance, Treasury and DPM to implement the agreement. “I would like to confirm that the 3% CPI for teachers has not been implemented yet. The Department and the provinces are currently administering the resumption exercise; processing of Resumption of Duty Summary Sheets (RODSS). That is why some teachers are paid their higher duty allowances, mining allowances and or responsibility allowances, especially for head teachers, managers, and principals.” The Minister said that the pay date targeted by the Department of Finance in consultation with DOE and TSC to implement the 2023 and 2024 3% CPI is from pay#10, pay date May 17, 2024. Every teacher will be informed of the progress and full implementation of the MOA in due course.