It is "irresponsible" of the Teaching Service Commission to take the teachers strike dispute to the National Court, says teachers union president Tommy Hecko.

Papua New Guinea Teachers' Association (PNGTA) president Mr. Hecko said the TSC wanted to take out a court injunction on Monday to ensure all teachers resumed work and to declare the strike illegal. The court hearing was adjourned to next week Monday.

However, TSC Chairman Allan Jogioba said: "I got no comment now. I have to go see the State Solicitor to advise me. The more I talk, the more people would pick it up." When asked to specify what he meant, he said he had no comment.

Mr. Hecko asked why the TSC had to take the matter to court when they should be busy trying to resolve the dispute by verifying that 25, 000 teachers did not get their 4 percent pay rise and were underpaid.

He said the TSC, reconciliation and arbitration tribunal and the teachers had a head-to-head discussion and finally came up with an agreement in the late afternoon of May 19.

He said from that agreement TSC had agreed to solve the matter before July 5.

The agreement states that: 1. A bipartisan task force will verify the 25, 000 teachers who had salary discrepancies as a result of transition from the former payroll system to the new computer payroll system; and 2. Six thousand teachers will be verified by the task force for not receiving their 4 percent pay rise; and 3. The parties recognise the fact that the Minister for Education assured PNGTA on the basis for a report of claim including appropriate funding of K73 million to fund discrepancies; directed the TSC and national department of education to prepare a Cabinet submission to the National Executive Council.

The K73 million is subject to verification and justification by the task force.