Teachers in Aitape hold secret ballot as part of nationwide industrial strike action taken by Papua New Guinea Teachers' Association (PNGTA).

During an inservice for lower primary school teachers, which was held for one week in Aitape town, teachers from schools along the east, west coast of Aitape as well as from Lumi towards the inland, gathered to cast votes in relation to the issue of accommodation or housing allowance.

At the end of the week's inservice program a secret ballot was held to get the teachers' view on the present situation that teachers nationwide have been enduring. This was in relation to the policy of teachers' having to receive only K6 to K7 per fortnight as housing allowance.

Philip Nasi, former PNGTA Sandaun President and current Secretary, said that the secret ballot was purposely to support the industrial strike by teachers nationwide.

He added that the issue of housing allowance has been of great pain to teachers as K6 to K7 kina was unreasonable as one person could not be able to pay rental fees with such an amount.

Mr. Nasi also added that the secret ballot had come about as a result of a submission made by Sandaun PNGTA President (Mr. Nasi) during the 13th Triennial Congress for PNGTA teachers in Kimbe last year.

He said that the submission was endorsed by the NMC for an increase from K7 to K400 as housing allowance.

"I thank the National President Tommy Hecko and the Secretariat for supporting the endorsement as it is of importance to the well being of the teachers, and the nation as a whole," Mr. Nasi said.

He also added that apart from the strike for proper accommodation requirements, PNGTA has asked the government, especially TSC to look seriously into the matter of teachers' salary fixation under the agreement, to enable teachers to be paid properly.