BY MORRIS NAFU
Acting President of the Solomon Islands National Teachers Association (SINTA), Frank Robolite’e, urges the government to ensure equitable benefits for teachers, calling for an end to years of perceived neglect.
Speaking at the World Teachers’ Day celebrations in Honiara yesterday, he declared that teachers deserve the same bonuses as other public servants, including rental allowances and annual travel packages.
“I’m standing here as Acting President of SINTA, declaring that enough is enough.
“It is time we now plead with the government and the responsible ministry to please treat us fairly, just like everybody else.
“If other provisions have rental entitlements and travelling packages… why not teachers?”
“Are we not paying taxes to the government? Wholeheartedly, we do,” he said.
Robolite’e highlighted the difficulty of the nation’s approximately 11,000 teachers, who he said have suffered without promotions or improved working conditions for years.
“We have been treated as adopted sons of the national government, compared to public servants who are treated as biological sons and enjoy all the privileges.
“He demanded immediate action to address this injustice starting in 2025 and beyond. It’s enough now. We can’t carry this burden anymore,” he stressed.
As implementers of the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development policies, teachers often receive only verbal praise, he noted, but in reality, it’s not.
Robolite’e stressed that tangible steps must be taken without delay.
In a positive note, he expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele and his Government of National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) for their commitment to timely salary payments.
He also acknowledged recent progress following SINTA’s 28-day strike notice to the national government, which led to a master agreement.
“Certainly, the government is taking steps to address the seven demands,” Robolite’e said.
However, he voiced concerns over the delayed rollout of these measures, slated for 2026 and 2027.
“We understand that some policies need to be sorted out, and we must learn to be patient.
“But sometimes, our patience too can be overused as a message against us at the end of the day,” he said.
“This needs to be stopped. Our voice needs to be heard as well, just like the other public services – the nurses, the police. Why? Because we are serving one government only,” he added.
Robolite’e calls on the Manele administration Government – to honour the master agreement signed and sealed on Friday, August 29, 2025.
He also rallied teachers to stay united and committed to SINTA, the union that amplifies their concerns to the highest levels of government.
Photo: Supplied
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