Church-State Partnership Strengthened as Catholic Education Secretaries Assume New Role as Charging Officers

Port Moresby - The long-standing partnership between the Church and the State in education in Papua New Guinea has borne new fruit, with the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) delegating the responsibility of Charging Officers to Catholic Education Secretaries.

His Excellency Bishop Paul Sundu, Assistant Deputy Bishop of the National Catholic Education Commission, made the remarks today as he addressed Catholic Education Secretaries gathered for their Annual Workshop at the Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands (CBCPNGSI) in Port Moresby.

Recalling the partnership formally established in 1970, Bishop Sundu noted that for more than five decades, the Church and State have worked "hand in hand and not in isolation" for the good of the nation's children. While the Church serves even the most remote communities, the State provides the regulatory and professional framework.

On behalf of the Catholic Bishops of Papua New Guinea, Bishop Sundu expressed profound gratitude to the TSC for the trust placed in Catholic Education Secretaries.

"We accept it with humility and a strong sense of responsibility," he said. "We receive this responsibility not as a privilege, but as a service and a commitment."

His Excellency Bishop Paul Sundu, Assistant Deputy Bishop of the National Catholic Education Commission

Key Takeaways from Bishop Sundu's Address

1. Bringing the TSC closer to teachers and children

Bishop Sundu warmly welcomed the increasing presence of the Teaching Service Commission in the provinces and its plan to extend into districts. In a country marked by difficult terrain and great distances, he said, physical proximity strengthens supervision, support, accountability and communication. "This is not simply about administration. It is about bringing the education system closer to the teacher and, ultimately, closer to the child."

2. Justice must be tempered with compassion

In their new role as Charging Officers, Education Secretaries must apply not only the letter of the law, but its spirit, Bishop Sundu stressed. He urged a pastoral and discerning approach when handling cases of teacher misconduct — examining what happened, the circumstances, whether the teacher was heard, whether there is a pattern, the impact on students, and whether correction and restoration are possible.

Citing Ephesians 4:15, "Speak the truth in love," he warned: "Justice without compassion can become harsh, while compassion without justice can undermine accountability. We need both justice and compassion."

He reminded Secretaries that teachers are human beings serving often in conditions of isolation and scarcity, and that a Charging Officer needs both courage to uphold the law and wisdom to understand the person.

Bishop Sundu Addressing the Catholic Education Secretaries in the Conference Hall at CBCPNGSI

3. Partnership as mission

Bishop Sundu described the delegation as "another fruit of partnership." Because the Catholic Church is already present where government officers struggle to reach regularly, the new arrangement builds upon an existing reality. It will allow the Church to assist the TSC in strengthening professional standards while remaining faithful to Catholic education's integral mission: to educate not only the mind, but also the heart, conscience and spirit of the child.

Concluding, Bishop Sundu called for fidelity to the vision that began in 1970: "Let us continue to work hand in hand, not in isolation, for the good of our teachers and, above all, for the good of the children of Papua New Guinea."