THE Permanent Secretary (PS) for the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD), Dr Franco Rodie has reassured teachers that their new salary structure has been completed and was deliberated on and approved for implementation by Cabinet last month.
Dr Rodie made the announcement at the celebration of World Teachers’ Day in Honiara on Friday, reiterating the initial announcement on the teacher salary by the MEHRD Minister Tozen Leokana in Parliament recently in his response to the Speech from the Throne delivered by the Governor General Reverend David Tiva Kapu.
Dr Rodie said MEHRD has devised a process through which they are going to implement the new salary structure and this has been deliberated on and approved by Cabinet for implementation.
“So as far as I’m concerned, we are on track in terms of when we are going to implement the new salary structure next year.
“This, I believe, the Government of National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) is committed and responding to this international theme of valuing teachers’ voices, particularly the teachers in our country,” Dr Rodie said.
He said it has been a long-time desire of teachers to be accorded a proper pay structure that recognizes their professional skills and the importance of motivating teachers to provide quality education.
Having served as PS in MEHRD for a long time now, Dr Rodie spearheaded the reformation of teachers’ salary structure which is part and parcel of the Education Act 2023.
Dr Rodie said as the responsible ministry for education, MEHRD has supported the professional development of teachers and so far, 174 students have graduated with teaching and education qualifications.
“This manifests this ministry’s continuous engagement and support to our education providers so that we can have qualified teachers to teach in our schools.
“And also, the professional development program and activities that we have conducted so that teachers can be upskilled in their knowledge, skills, motivations and thinking so that we can become more effective teachers than ever before,” Dr Rodie said.
By AGNES MENANOPO
Solomon Star, Honiara
