The Teaching Service Commission (TSC) has advertised 42,000 teaching positions nationwide for the 2027 academic year and directed eligible teachers and graduating education students to submit applications by July 31.
Acting TSC Chairman Maini Mike Ugaia announced yesterday in a statement that the vacancies comprise 25,147 base-level positions and 16,853 promotional positions across primary, secondary, high and vocational schools, as well as national institutions.
Mr. Ugaia said the Commission had assumed full responsibility for teacher appointments following legal advice from the State Solicitor confirming that the TSC is the sole employer of teachers in Papua New Guinea.
He said the move also aligns with the Government’s directive for the Commission to take full responsibility for teacher appointments and related employment matters.
Mr. Ugaia said the vacancies were identified through a nationwide teaching position cleansing exercise aimed at resolving long-standing appointment issues and protecting teachers’ salaries.
He urged all serving teachers and certified 2027 graduates holding TSC Admission Certificates to apply for the advertised positions.
Applications close on July 31, with completed forms required to be submitted through Provincial TSC offices.
Teachers applying for promotional positions have been instructed to attach their inspection reports and eligibility certificates to their applications before lodging them with their respective Provincial TSC and Provincial Education Offices.
Mr. Ugaia said teachers who have retired, resigned or are on long-service leave are not eligible to apply.
He also directed Provincial Education Boards (PEBs) to comply fully with the timetable outlined in Circular Instruction No. 8 of 2026 and ensure their memberships are current before the appointment process begins.
Mr. Ugaia expressed concern that teacher appointments in Hela, Manus and Gulf provinces were declared null and void in 2026 because their Provincial Education Boards failed to comply with legal requirements.
He warned that similar administrative failures would not be tolerated during the 2027 appointment process because they directly affect teachers’ welfare and salary payments.
The Acting Chairman urged provinces with expired Provincial Education Boards to immediately reconstitute or renew their memberships.
He said the TSC would centralize the appointment process from Port Moresby if provinces failed to establish compliant boards in time.
Mr. Ugaia said the Commission’s objective was to ensure all teacher appointments, payroll records and occupancy data were updated before the first pay period of 2027 to prevent salary delays and unnecessary pay suspensions.
The vacancy gazette has been published under Circular Instruction No. 8 of 2026 and is available for download from the Teaching Service Commission’s official website https://www.tsc.gov.pg/careers/