PILAG Course To Be Mandatory
Public Service Minister Hon. Joe Sungi said, it will now become mandatory for graduates to have a certificate of public service management from the Pacific Institute of Leadership & Governance as an entry requirement into the public service.
Speaking during PILAG’s 3rd graduation on the 2nd of July Minister Sungi told the graduates that under the newly launched long term plan – the Human Resource Development Plan 2020-2050 will now guide the entry into and exit from the public service.
The Public Service Minister announced that it will now become mandatory that public servants must undergo a certificate course at PILAG to gain employment in the public service. He further stated that executive appointments of Departmental heads, CEO’s, MD’s of line government agencies must now attain a Diploma in Management from PILAG to be eligible for appointment to an executive position. “We will modernise the public service so graduates must put the public service as their employer of choice.
Others will be convinced by seeing you. If you can shine out when you return to your respective organisations, others will be attracted to take up a career in the public service”.
Minister Sungi encouraged the graduates to be the agents of change when they return to their respective organisations. Addressing the graduation Minister Sungi said, the public Service desperately needs public servants who are competent and committed.
The Public Service Minister told the graduate that he was adopting the two C’s from Prime Minister Hon. James Marape when he delivered the keynote address at the launch of the long term plan for the public service – the HRDSP 2020-2050. The Minister said, the two C’s that he wanted to share with the graduates is to be competent and committed.
“You are now going to be graduating from these courses and building your competency level which is skill enhancement. So when you go out you have all the credentials, knowledge and skills to be able to rise up and perform better. You are now competent. Competency is everything – punctuality, responsibility and being proactive. You should not wait for your boss to tell you what to do. You do it yourself by taking responsibility”.
The Public Service Minister also reiterated that commitment is one of the biggest issues in the public service. “We have a real big problem in this country and that is we are not committed. You have to be committed to the call to become a public servant”.
Minister Sungi in his encouragement message to the graduates told them that they need to show that commitment to others. Minister Sungi also took time to thank donors and SP Brewery Foundation for the support they have accorded to the institution over the years.
Secretary Ms Taies Sansan who addressed the graduation in her capacity as the interim chair of the PILAG board also congratulated the graduates and acknowledged the contributions of donors such as the Australian government. Ms Sansan also acknowledged former DPM Secretary’s and Ministers who had a hand in contributing towards PILAG’s achievements.
PILAG CEO Michael Barobe in addressing the graduation also acknowledged the contributions of the Australian government towards infrastructure support for the institution. Mr Barobe thanked the graduates for being role models and abiding by the institutions rules and principles.
Mr Barobe said, future students to the institute will abide by the institutions rules as the example has been set by the current graduates. The 3rd PILAG graduation after its change of name saw 247 students graduating from 10 different courses ranging from certificate and diploma courses. 90 percent of the graduates are public servants while the rest were from the private sector.