THE Teaching Service Commission (TSC) issued a formal statement today responding to recent media reports claiming the Commission is withholding professional teacher registration certificates. This clarification addresses public concerns regarding the employment status of more than 2,000 recent graduates from the University of Goroka and various primary teacher training colleges nationwide.
The primary goal of this statement is to correct administrative inaccuracies published in recent news reports. Contrary to those reports, Acting Chairman Mr. Maini Mike Ugaia emphasized that the TSC does not hold the legal authority to oversee teacher registration or withhold professional certificates.
“Teacher Registration Certificates are issued by the National Department of Education (NDOE) to all new graduates from approved teacher training institutions under the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (DHERST),” Mr. Ugaia explained.
“The Commission functions solely as the employer. We approve the admission and deployment of new graduates and new commencements in the country. A Provisional Registration Certificate is simply one of the TSC admission requirements to enable teachers to enter the teaching workforce.”
The withholding of provisional certificates mentioned in the media is a direct enforcement of standard academic policies established by departmental authorities, rather than an administrative delay by the Commission.
Furthermore, the Commission does not set or enforce the minimum 2.8 Grade Point Average (GPA) admission or graduation requirements recently referenced in Parliament. These GPA standards are established strictly by DHERST for selection and scholarship purposes.
The TSC noted that for 2026, a total of 3,614 graduates completed various teacher training awards. Their registration was delayed from January until June 2026, which now directly impacts the welfare of teachers who are already working.
The TSC recognizes that many graduates have been teaching without registration, while others have yet to start. The Commission is issuing the following directives based on employment status:
● For teachers who started working in January: Supply all admission applications to your provincial TSC office immediately.
● For graduates without an official appointment: Fill out admission forms and submit them to the TSC now. This will start the application process for 2027. The appointment cycle for 2026 has already closed, and full teaching service must commence at the start of 2027.
The TSC is currently aligning its operations to take full ownership of all teacher-related business. Delays like this directly harm the image of the teaching profession. The TSC confirmed that the supply and demand of the teaching workforce has been negatively affected over the last five years.
The TSC thanks the Marape-Rosso Government for recognizing the challenges of teacher management in the country. The Commission supports the call for all teacher business to be managed solely by TSC. As the state agency responsible for teacher welfare and terms of employment, the TSC is ready to take full responsibility for all teacher issues moving forward.