The Education Ministry has disbursed most of the $8.9 million allocated for rural allowance and salary upgrade for 4242 rural-based teachers and 131 teachers who have upgraded their qualifications.
This was confirmed by Education Minister Aseri Radrodro who said of the 4382 teachers who qualified for the rural allocation, only 142 were left and the ministry’s human resources department was working on ensuring all procedures were followed before releasing the allowance.
Moreover, he said 131 teachers had upgraded their qualifications with diplomas and bachelor’s degrees in early childhood, primary and secondary education.
“As of 31st August 2023, a total amount of $338,031.74 has been paid out to those eligible teachers and the remaining will have their salary upgraded once they submit relevant documents to HR,” Mr Radrodro said.
He assured the teachers that the location allowance and salary upgrade for eligible teachers should be completed by the end of the third term.
Furthermore, the minister said he was closely monitoring the update on the review of ECE teachers’ salary regularisation.
He clarified the upgrade was based on the revised job responsibilities with daily working hours to be reviewed from 3.5 to 8 hours.
Mr Radrodro said he believed ECE teachers should be supported as they were the ones who laid the critical foundation of formal education.
