SILAG PUSHES PUBLIC SERVANTS REFORMS TO ENFORCE HIGH QUALIFICATION STANDARDS

BY NIGEL MADO

THE Somare Institute of Leadership and Governance-SILAG- is pushing for reforms that could eventually require public servants to meet stronger qualification and competency standards before being appointed to key positions.

SILAG Chief Executive Officer Michael Barobe said the institute, together with the Department of Personnel Management, is reviewing the Public Service Management Act as part of wider efforts to improve how people are appointed to positions across the public sector.

Barobe said SILAG Policy No. 61-2031, which focuses on creating a sustainable, stable and systematic public sector appointment process, has already been endorsed by the National Executive Council.

Under the proposed reforms, greater emphasis would be placed on ensuring that people appointed to public service positions have the appropriate knowledge, skills and qualifications to carry out their duties effectively.

Barobe clarified that SILAG certification is not currently a legal requirement for public servants but said changes being considered could make such standards part of the law in the future.

He said the aim was to ensure people were properly prepared before taking up management and administrative positions within the public service.

Barobe pointed to SILAG’s Advanced Development Leadership and Management programme, which recently graduated senior government officials, including Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso and several departmental heads.

He said training and professional development were important to ensuring public servants understood their responsibilities and applied good management and public service practices in their workplaces.