A lot of comments by teachers and the public on the issue of teachers’ 3% have been noted. Minister for Education Lucas Dekena assured the teachers that it is a real deal signed as a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) by the Papua New Guinea Teachers’ Association on behalf of the Teachers, Teaching Service Commission on behalf of the Government and witnessed by the Department of Personal Management Secretary on behalf of the State. “That MOA is legally binding." "It has not been politicized nor is it neither a lie, nor a myth as quoted in the National and circulated even on social media.” The truths of the matter are these: · That the MOA was signed after the 2024 budget was handed down. This meant Treasury had to look for and secure money to effect the MOA · That has been done and Finance Department started work on getting the teachers paid through the ALESCO pay system. · However, in view of the January 10th, 2024, unrest due to a glitch at Alesco Teaching Service Commission and Pay Roll Division of the Department of Education requested for a Test Run to Verify all teachers’ salaries before the final run. · The Test run was done and verified but there was a glitch. Finance Department was informed and is working on verifying the anomalies to avoid a glitch for the teachers to be paid. “Let me assure the teachers that the MOA is binding, and you will be paid your 3% CPI increment and allowances as the verification is completed. Finance Department is working to input all information into the ALESCO Payroll for payments to be made.” “As Minster for Education I wish to take this time to thank you the forever hard-working teachers for your patience, tolerance, and understanding in respecting the processes involved in implementing the MOA on the Determination of Salaries and Allowances for teachers in the Teaching Service from 2023 to 2025.” He also acknowledged the undivided support given by Departments of Personnel Management, Finance, and Treasury to Teaching Service Commission and the Department of Education in ensuring the Implementation of the MOA is effected. “In conclusion I wish to reiterate that the 3% pay rise and the payment of allowances to teachers from 2023 to 2025 is neither a pack of lies nor a myth, nor is it politicized as speculated. It is legally binding through the signed MOA and the teachers will be paid.”