THE Secretary for Education, Dr Uke Kombra, has announced that more than 22,000 teachers across Papua New Guinea are yet to be registered for the 2026 academic year, prompting the Department to extend its auto-suspension deadline.
As of March 24, a total of 49,674 teachers have successfully submitted their Resumption of Duty Summary Sheets (RoDSS). However, Department records show that 22,135 teachers remain unregistered. This includes those who have not submitted their RoDSS as well as new graduates whose registrations are still being processed.
Originally scheduled for Pay #7 on April 3, the suspension deadline has now been pushed to Pay #9 on May 1, giving teachers additional time to comply with requirements.
Despite the extension, teachers who fail to submit their RoDSS by April 15 will receive their final salary on April 17 before being automatically suspended from the payroll system. The Department has assured that teachers affected by the suspension but who later submit their documents will be reinstated, with their pay backdated accordingly.
The provinces with the highest number of teachers at risk of suspension include Jiwaka (2,635), Enga (2,055), Morobe (2,016), Madang (1,956), East Sepik (1,829), West Sepik
(1,404), Simbu (1,234), New Ireland (1,156), Eastern Highlands (1,143), and Central (1,095), bringing the total number at risk in these areas to 16,523.
Dr Kombra has called on Provincial Education Advisors (PEAs) to urgently ensure that all teachers’ documents are received, verified, and entered into the payroll system.
He emphasized that the auto-suspension process is necessary to maintain payroll accuracy by removing inactive teachers, including those who have retired, resigned, or failed to resume duty, as well as eliminating so-called “ghost names.”
The Department reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that all active and hardworking teachers are properly registered and fairly paid, acknowledging their critical role as the backbone of the nation’s development.
Some teachers who are released officers, offloaded teachers and even graduates are still struggling to get the postion. The teachers appointing authorities are playing delaying techniques trying to get bribes or commission from them.
This is a humble call representing those who are yet register to Education Secretary to further extends the auto suspension date to pay #: 10.
From concerned observer.
Thats the real hidden facts
Some good teachers have spent years teaching in private schools with being properly recognized. Should they apply for registration too.?
Some of us are very committed teachers who are currently teaching in very remote schools and have not been registered due to school administrative issues. Our inspectional report has been prolonged due to position changes Therefore .
Some good teachers are displaced, names not in the review posting in Jiwaka.
A good number of teachers here in Jiwaka are being displaced and not given any position as well as their names are not the review posting list for teaching.I believe they are committed teachers..