SILAG Graduands Challenged to Unlearn Old Habits.
Graduating students at the Somare Institute of Leadership and Governance were challenged to unlearn old habits and utilize the knowledge, skills and attitudes acquired so that they can transform themselves and contribute more effectively and meaningfully towards the greater good of their workplace, community and country.
Department of Personnel Management Secretary and Chairlady to the SILAG board Ms. Taies Sansan encouraged graduands to intentionally unlearn some old habits and biases and learn and relearn new ones so that they can become better versions of themselves.
Secretary Sansan made this statement when delivering the keynote address at the SILAG mid-year graduation ceremony for certificate holders based in the provinces which was held at the SILAG hall in Port Moresby on Friday the 30th of August.
“The knowledge, skills and attitudes that you have acquired from the SILAG training must transform you from the inside out so that you are a better version of yourselves,” said Ms. Sansan.
She said, as humans we learn different things over time primarily through our diverse upbringing, culture and education, hence these repetitive experiences that have been reinforced over time to contribute to forming our habits and characters.
Furthermore, Secretary Sansan highlighted two very important reforms driven by SILAG in the last few years with the full support of the department.
“Firstly, we are in the process of an Amendment Bill to amend Section 35 of the PSMA 1995, with respect to public sector recruitment, promotion and appointment”.
The Amendment Bill when approved by the National Executive Council, it has the effect of promoting meritocracy in the public sector recruitment and appointments which will make SILAG certification compulsory for public sector employment, promotion and appointment.
Another, important policy mandate is under the Marape-Rosso Government’s MTDP IV: 2023-2027 is for SILGA to become a specialized public sector university by 2027.
“We are in the process of addressing these policy changes and directives concurrently. I can confidently announce today that we are doing everything in our power to make sure that we will become a specialized university for the PNG National Public Service by 2027, offering specialized degree programs”.