THE Teaching Service Commission (TSC) has officially released Circular Instruction No. 8 of 2026, announcing exactly 42,000 teaching positions vacancies across the country for the 2027 academic year.
TSC Acting Chairman Maini Mike Ugaia confirmed that this massive deployment consists of 25,147 base-level positions and 16,853 promotional positions across primary, high, secondary, and vocational schools, as well as national institutions.
Chairman Ugaia stated that the Commission has taken full responsibility for all teacher appointments following formal legal advice from the State Solicitor, which confirms that anything to do with teachers must rest with the TSC as the sole employer of teachers in Papua New Guinea.
He emphasized that this structural shift aligns directly with orders from the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea for the TSC to take over all teacher business completely.
According to the Chairman, these vacant teaching positions were identified after a rigorous teaching position cleansing workshop conducted by the TSC.
This process is designed to fix long-standing appointment issues and safeguard teachers’ salaries. He strongly urges all eligible teachers to apply immediately to fill the available base-level positions, noting that this gazette is strictly for current serving members of the teaching workforce and certified 2027 graduates.
Regarding strict requirements and next steps, Chairman Ugaia announced that teachers have until the end of July to apply, and all completed forms must reach TSC Provincial Offices by the absolute deadline of July 31, 2026.
A strong emphasis is placed on all base-level teachers applying for all advertised base teaching positions. All 2026 admitted new graduates holding a TSC Admission Certificate are eligible to apply, as are all current serving members of the teaching workforce. For promotional positions, all teachers are encouraged to attach their inspection and eligibility reports to all TSC forms and submit them to their respective Provincial TSC and Provincial Education Offices before 31st July 2026.
The Chairman urged teachers applying for promotional positions to provide and attach their official inspection report and eligibility certificate to their Form 30. He also made it clear that exclusions apply, meaning teachers who haveretired, resigned, or are currently on long service leave are barred from applying.
In his mandatory instructions for Provincial Education Boards, Chairman Ugaia stated that all boards are to follow the schedule provided in Circular Instruction No. 8.
The Vacancy Gazettes can be downloaded from the official Teaching Service Commission website. https://www.tsc.gov.pg/careers/
Querying the PNG TSC Opens 42, 000 Teaching Positions for 2027 School Year & Application for a Primary School Position in Simbu Province|
Dear Commissioners,
First and foremost, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Commission (TSC) for the timely publication of teaching positions for 2027, opening a massive 42, 000 teaching position vacancies across the country.
I wish to bring to your esteemed attention some queries I have in relation to the Teaching Position Vacancy Gazette 2026, published on Friday, 3rd July 2026, and subsequently apply for a primary teaching position in Simbu Province.
Before I get to the above-mentioned gazette, I am Magreth Degemba, 25 years of age, married with one. I am a new graduate primary school teacher.
Whilst I appreciate the marvelous manadates and functions of the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) under the relevant enabling Act of Parliament.
I am a new graduate primary school teacher. I completed my Diploma in Primary Teaching in 2023 at Melanesia Nazeren Teachers College (MNTC) with a total grade point average (GPA) of 2.9.
In 2024, I was registered as a teacher in Papua New Guinea (PNG) under the provisions of the Education Act. Bearing registration number *2237514*, CRTP (PROVISIONAL): 0004265, S/N: MNTCD – 59847 – 2023014
On or around July 2024, I taught for academic terms (3 &4) at St. Paul’s (Yobai) Primary School in the remote Salt Nomane Karimui District, Simbu Province as a relief teacher without a position through a hadoch arrangement made by the then Appointment and Recruitment Officer (ARO), Mr. Kimbe Muglua of Simbu Provincial Education Board (SEB), now the Simbu Provincial Education Advisor in the hopes of me being given a position and file number later.
On or around early 2025, I applied for a primary teaching position under the New Commencement (NC) category within Simbu Province. I was shortlisted for screening and interview. Completed my NC’s screening and interview. However, I awaited for results – to be given a position, but to no avail, I received a response from the SEB.
Around mid-2025, upon being frustrated by the long waited inactions of the SEB, I flew down to Port Moresby in search of possible teaching opportunities in the National Capital District (NCD) because my husband is working in Port Moresby.
Whilst in Port Moresby, I discovered numerous primary teaching vacancies within NCD schools published through the Education Vacancy Gazette 2025 – National Capital District, Volume 46, No. 01 Waigani, dated Friday 13th June 2025.
Intrigued by the vacancy gazettal, on or around October 2025, I applied by expressing my interest in a position within three agencies’ primary schools addressed to the Secretary, Catholic Education Secretariat – NDC Archdiocese but to no avail I have received a favorable response to date.
Given my above-mentioned experiences; I would kindly wish to query the gazettal as to whether or not
1. The vacancies published really vacant , or are there actual teaching vacancies in each province per se?
2. If it’s affirmative, why are Provincial Education Boards (PEBs) forever saying there’s no vacancy at the moment and refusing, especially us new graduates? They will say they are waiting for TSC to create new positions.
3. Are these 42,000 teaching positions for 2027 school year really vacant so that I can apply?
If so, I would gladly apply by way email for a primary teaching position pursuant to the herein said Vacancy Gazette in Simbu Province.
Please kindly provide me with your email address.
Warm regards
Magreth Degemba
New Graduate Primary Teacher
To apply for next year’s teaching position.. how do I apply?
What is the volume and gazette number for next year